Power transmission systems and methods

Abstract

SOLUTION: To provide a system for transmitting electrical power from an electrical power source to a receiver.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross-reference This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 817,159, filed Mar. 12, 2019; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 934,309, filed Nov. 12, 2019; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 944,645, filed Dec. 6, 2019; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 956,479, filed Jan. 2, 2020, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] Technical Field The present invention relates to power transmitters, receivers, and systems and methods for power transmission.

Background Art

[0003] In inductive power transfer (IPT), power is generally transferred between coils of wire by a magnetic field. When an alternating current (AC) is generated by a transmitting coil, an oscillating magnetic field is created. This magnetic field passes through a receiving coil and induces an alternating current in the receiving coil. The induced alternating current can either directly generate a load or be rectified to a direct current (DC) that is applied to generate a load. To achieve high efficiency, the transmitting and receiving coils must be very close. For example, it is common for the transmitter coil and the receiver coil to be separated by only a small coil diameter (e.g., within centimeters), and the axes of the coils are closely aligned.

[0004] In some IPT systems, resonant inductive coupling is utilized. Resonant inductive coupling can increase the efficiency of IPT through the use of resonators. Resonant inductive coupling can achieve higher efficiency over longer distances than non-resonant inductive coupling. In resonant inductive coupling, power is transferred by a magnetic field between two resonators, one in a transmitter and the other in a receiver. The two circuits are tuned to resonate at the same resonant frequency.

[0005] In some IPT systems, the magnetic field can generate eddy currents in nearby metals. This can lead to significant temperature increases and a fire hazard. Ferrite plates may be used to provide shielding and improve inductive coupling, but such systems may be more expensive.

[0006] Capacitive power transmission (CPT) uses an electric field to transmit power between two electrodes, such as metal plates. Typically, four metal plates are used in a CPT system to form a capacitive coupler. When two plates act as power transmitters and the other two as power receivers, at least two coupling capacitors create a power flow loop. An AC voltage is applied to the transmitting plates by the transmitter. An AC potential is induced on the receiver plates by an oscillating electric field, causing an AC current to flow through the load circuit. Resonance can also be used in conjunction with capacitive coupling to extend the power transmission range.

[0007] In CPT systems, eddy current losses can be reduced, allowing for lower-cost plates and thus reducing the overall system cost. However, a common problem with many systems is the risk of high voltage being applied to these plates. Such high voltages generate strong electric fields, resulting in a significant amount of electric field being released into the surrounding area.

[0008] CPT and IPT systems present problems associated with capacitive or inductive compensation networks. Currently, both CPT and IPT systems require minimal isolation between the receiver and transmitter. This typically necessitates large capacitors and inductors on the primary and secondary sides of the compensation network. Such large components are difficult to manufacture, and their parasitic resistance can dramatically reduce system efficiency. Furthermore, these compensation elements do not directly participate in the power transmission process.

[0009] Wireless power transmitters and receivers with fewer components and / or reduced costs are still desired. Wireless power transmitters and receivers with less reliance on compensation networks are still desired. More efficient wireless power transmitters and receivers are still desired. Wireless power transmitters with greater flexibility in alignment and spacing requirements are still desired.

[0010] The field of power transmission in consumer products is becoming increasingly important. In the automotive sector, electrical wire harnesses have become a critical and cost-effective subsystem of vehicles. The automotive wire harness market is estimated to have exceeded US$77 billion in the last decade. In an era focused on the gasoline range of internal combustion engine vehicles, the carbon emissions of automobiles, and the electric vehicle range, the cost, weight, and power transmission efficiency of the aforementioned harnesses have become major concerns in automobile design. This concern is understandable when you consider that materials and components account for approximately 57% of automobile production costs.

[0011] Battery technology products are steadily improving to provide batteries with higher energy density, but consumer demand is also increasing as ancillary user electronic devices and electric drive systems are increasingly integrated into vehicles. This is leading to further demand for batteries, vehicle weight, cost, and power transmission efficiency. In the 1990s, higher voltage battery systems were proposed to the automotive industry, partly to reduce the weight of wire harnesses.

[0012] Considerable efforts have been made to reduce the use of expensive copper in wire harnesses, leading to a movement towards the use of cheaper aluminum. This trend is further driven by the prospect of reducing the weight of a typical car by approximately 40 lbs. However, this trend towards using aluminum itself has its problems, partly because aluminum has 1.58 times the resistance of copper. Aluminum is also susceptible to a phenomenon known as creep, where connections loosen. Furthermore, aluminum oxidizes, requiring careful handling of connections. Some forms of wire harnesses still require copper, and the connection between copper and aluminum creates galvanic potential problems.

[0013] There is a clear need for an alternative to vehicle wire harnesses that reduces the amount of expensive copper, provides voltage flexibility, avoids the problems caused by aluminum, and reduces weight.

[0014] At the same time, in order to keep pace with the rapidly advancing battery technology in the electric vehicle sector, it is necessary to improve the efficiency of power transmission technology.

[0015] These requirements are not limited to the automotive sector; they also apply to fields such as solar energy power transmission, and, with some modifications, to consumer electronics such as computer and television displays. Power regulating units, which optimally extract power from power sources with fluctuating voltages, are widely used today, but these units generally have limitations in terms of the level of control equipment they can provide. As a result, power transmission efficiency is not optimized.

[0016] The examples of related technologies and limitations described herein are illustrative and not intended to be exclusive. Further limitations on related technologies will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reading this specification and examining the drawings. [Overview of the project]

[0017] In a first embodiment, a two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system is provided, the system configured to simultaneously transmit capacitive and inductive power at a resonant power signal oscillation frequency according to an adjustable transmission mode ratio, the system comprising a transmitter subsystem comprising a transmitter antenna subsystem and a power signal tuner module, the transmitter subsystem configured to adjust the transmission mode ratio by adjusting the power signal supplied to the transmitter antenna subsystem by the power signal tuner module, and a receiver subsystem comprising a receiver antenna subsystem configured to receive power from the transmitter antenna subsystem at the transmission mode ratio.

[0018] The tuner module may be configured to adjust the power signal by adjusting the phase difference between the current and voltage of the power signal provided to the transmitter antenna subsystem. The transmitter subsystem may further include a controller and at least one sensor, the controller being configured to receive sensor information from the at least one sensor and to automatically provide tuning commands to the power signal tuner module based on the sensor information, and the tuner module being configured to adjust the phase difference between the current and voltage of the power signal provided to the transmitter antenna subsystem in accordance with the tuning commands.

[0019] The at least one sensor may be located in the transmitter subsystem. In other embodiments, the at least one sensor may be located on the receiver subsystem, and the controller may be configured to receive the sensor information wirelessly. The at least one sensor may include one of a power load sensor, a transmit power sensor, an ambient object detector, and a distance detector that detects the distance between the transmitter antenna subsystem and the receiver antenna subsystem.

[0020] The resonant power signal oscillation frequency may vary freely within a predetermined frequency band. The predetermined frequency band may be the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequency band. The system may be detuned to such an extent that the resonant power signal oscillation frequency can vary within the conflict limits within the predetermined frequency band.

[0021] In a further embodiment, a wireless method is provided for transmitting power in two ways at a resonant power signal oscillation frequency according to an adjustable transmission mode ratio, the method comprising: providing a transmitter subsystem comprising a power signal tuner module and a transmitter antenna subsystem configured to resonate at the resonant power signal oscillation frequency; providing a receiver subsystem comprising a receiver antenna subsystem configured to resonate at the resonant power signal oscillation frequency; providing a power signal from the tuner module to the transmitter antenna subsystem at the resonant power signal oscillation frequency; adjusting the transmission mode ratio by adjusting the power signal from the tuner module to the transmitter antenna subsystem; and receiving the transmitted power at the resonant power signal oscillation frequency via the receiver antenna subsystem at the transmission mode ratio in the receiver subsystem. The step of adjusting the transmission mode ratio may include adjusting the phase difference between the current and voltage of the power signal provided to the transmitter antenna subsystem.

[0022] The step of providing the transmitter subsystem may further include providing a controller and at least one sensor, and the adjustment of the phase difference between the current and voltage may be performed by the tuner module via a command from the controller, based on sensor information received by the controller from at least one sensor. The command from the controller may be automatically issued to the tuner module when the controller receives the sensor information. The tuner module may automatically execute the command from the controller to change the phase difference.

[0023] The method may further include a step of enabling the resonant power signal oscillation frequency to vary within a predetermined frequency band. The predetermined frequency band may be the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequency band. The step of providing a transmitter subsystem may include providing a transmitter subsystem that is detuned to such an extent that the resonant power signal oscillation frequency varies within the opposing limits of the predetermined frequency band.

[0024] In a further embodiment, a near-field resonant wireless power transmission system is provided, comprising a transmitting subsystem comprising a plurality of substantially isolated transmitter resonators and corresponding transmitter modules in power signal communication state with each transmitter resonator, each transmitter module comprising a transmitting controller and a power signal source having a power signal oscillation frequency and a power signal phase, each power signal source comprising a transmitting subsystem controlled by the corresponding transmitting controller, one or more receiver subsystems each comprising a corresponding receiver resonator, a software lookup table of individual power signal oscillation frequencies enabled for the power signal source, and software loaded into memory and executed by the controller of one of the transmitter modules, which transmits one of the input impedance of the corresponding transmitter resonator and the test signal power consumption by the corresponding transmitter resonator, and performs the action of selecting a frequency from the lookup table for the corresponding power signal source based on the input impedance of the corresponding transmitter resonator and the test signal power consumption by the corresponding transmitter resonator. At runtime, the software may perform the action of adjusting the phase of the power signal from the corresponding power signal source while measuring the power value transmitted by the corresponding transmitter resonator. The transmitter resonators may be substantially isolated from each other by a grounded shielding grid.

[0025] In a further embodiment, a wireless near-field method is provided for transmitting power from a multiple transmitter subsystem to a single resonant receiver subsystem at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency, the method comprising the steps of: providing the multiple transmitter subsystem, the transmitter subsystem comprising a plurality of independent transmitter resonators, each transmitter resonator being independently set to one of a plurality of pre-set power signal oscillation frequencies in a pre-set frequency band, and all the transmitter resonators having a common transmitting surface; and arranging a resonant receiver subsystem having a single receiver resonator overlapping two or more of the transmitter resonators in proximity to the common transmitting surface; and transmitting The method includes the steps of: measuring one of the input impedances of each transmitter resonator and the power consumed from the test signal by each of the transmitter resonators; setting one of the power off state and power on state for each of a plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators based on the measured corresponding resonator input impedance and the power consumed from the test signal by the corresponding transmitter resonator; selecting a power signal oscillation frequency for each activated transmitter resonator from a plurality of pre-set power oscillation frequencies based on the measured input impedance of the activated transmitter resonator; and setting the power signal of each activated transmitter resonator to the corresponding selected frequency. The method may further include the step of adjusting the phase of the power signal applied to each corresponding transmitter resonator to a phase that substantially maximizes power transmission through the transmitter resonator.

[0026] In a further embodiment, a wireless near-field method is provided for transmitting power from a multiplex transmitter subsystem to two or more receiver subsystems at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency, the method comprising the steps of: providing the multiplex transmitter subsystem, the transmitter subsystem comprising a plurality of independent transmitter resonators, each of which can be independently set to one of a plurality of predetermined power signal oscillation frequencies in a predetermined frequency band, and all of which have a common transmitting surface; and arranging two or more resonant receiver subsystems, each comprising a single receiver resonator overlapping two or more of the transmitter resonators, in proximity to the common transmitting surface. The method includes the steps of: measuring the input impedance of each of the transmitter resonators and the power consumed from the test signal by each of the transmitter resonators; setting one of a power off state and an on state for each of a plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators based on the measured corresponding resonator input impedance and the power consumed from the test signal by the corresponding transmitter resonator; selecting a power signal oscillation frequency for each activated transmitter resonator from a plurality of pre-set power oscillation frequencies based on the measured input impedance of the activated transmitter resonator; and setting the power signal of each activated transmitter resonator to the corresponding selected frequency. The method may further include the step of adjusting the phase of the power signal applied to each corresponding transmitter resonator to a phase that substantially maximizes power transmission through the transmitter resonator.

[0027] In a further aspect, a near-field wireless system for transmitting power from a photovoltaic cell to a power load is provided, the system comprising a transmission module in a wired electrical communication state with the photovoltaic cell, the transmission module being configured to convert the power from the photovoltaic cell into an oscillating power signal having an oscillation frequency; a transmitter resonator in a wired electrical communication state with the transmission module and configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency; a receiver resonator configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency and arranged to receive power from the transmitter resonator via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; and a receiver module in a wired electrical communication state with the receiver resonator, the receiver module being configured to receive power from the receiver resonator and convert the received power into a DC form via wired electrical communication with the power load.

[0028] The transmission module may comprise a power amplifier configured to adjust the power received from the photovoltaic cell at the oscillation frequency. The transmission module may comprise an oscillator configured to provide the oscillation frequency to the power amplifier. The transmission module may comprise a controller and one or more sensors, the controller being configured to vary the oscillation frequency based on first information from at least one of the one or more sensors. The transmission module may comprise a transmission tuning network configured to change at least one phase of the power provided by the transmission module to the transmitter resonator based on second information obtained from at least one of the one or more sensors under the control of the controller.

[0029] The system may include one or more power conditioning units electrically connected between the photovoltaic cell and the transmission module and configured to condition the power from the photovoltaic cell into a format compatible with the transmission module. The transmission module includes a small signal electronic circuit, and the power conditioning unit may be further configured to provide power to the small signal electronic circuit. The transmitter resonator may be disposed on the surface of the photovoltaic cell on the side opposite to the dynamic solar radiation receiving surface of the photovoltaic cell. The transmitter resonator includes a surface area having a range that is at least one major fraction of the dynamic solar radiation receiving surface of the photovoltaic cell.

[0030] Each transmitter resonator may have a planar area smaller than the planar area of the receiver resonator. The receiver resonator may be arranged and configured to receive power from a further transmitter resonator via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction at the resonance frequency.

[0031] In a further embodiment, a near-field wireless system is provided for transmitting power from an array of photovoltaic cells to a power load, the system comprising: a first plurality of transmission modules, each transmission module being in a wired electrical communication state with a corresponding photovoltaic cell in the array and configured to convert the power from the corresponding photovoltaic cell into an oscillating power signal having an oscillation frequency; a second plurality of transmitter resonators, each transmitter resonator being in a wired electrical communication state with a corresponding transmission module of the first plurality of transmission modules and configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency; a single receiver resonator configured to resonate at the oscillation frequency and arranged to receive power from the plurality of transmitter resonators via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; and a receiver module in a wired electrical communication state with the receiver resonator, the receiver module being configured to receive power from the receiver resonator and convert the received power into a DC form via wired electrical communication with the power load.

[0032] Each of the first plurality of transmitting modules may include a power amplifier configured to adjust the power received from the corresponding photocell at the vibration frequency. Each of the first plurality of transmitting modules may also include an oscillator configured to supply the vibration frequency to the corresponding power amplifier. Each of the first plurality of transmitting modules may further include a controller and one or more sensors, the controller configured to vary the vibration frequency based on first information from at least one of the one or more sensors. Each of the first plurality of transmitting modules may also include a transmit tuning network configured, under the control of the corresponding controller, to change the phase of at least one of the power supplied by the transmitting module to the corresponding transmitter resonator based on second information obtained from at least one of the one or more sensors.

[0033] The system may include a third plurality of power adjustment units, each of which is electrically connected between a corresponding photocell and a corresponding transmitting module and configured to adapt the power from the corresponding photocell to a format compatible with the corresponding transmitting module. Each of the first plurality of transmitting modules includes a small signal electronic circuit, and the corresponding power adjustment unit may further be configured to supply power to the small signal electronic circuit. Each of the second plurality of transmitter resonators may be positioned on the surface of the corresponding photocell opposite to the dynamic solar radiation receiving surface of the corresponding photocell.

[0034] In a further embodiment, a near-field wireless system is provided for transmitting power from an array of photocells to a power load, the system comprising: a first plurality of transmitting modules, each transmitting module being in wired telecommunication with a corresponding photocell in the array and configured to convert power from the corresponding photocell into an oscillating power signal having an oscillating frequency; and a second plurality of transmitter resonators, each transmitting resonator being in wired telecommunication with a corresponding transmitting module of the first plurality of transmitting modules and configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency. A third plurality of receiver resonators, each of which is configured to receive power from a corresponding transmitter resonator of the second plurality of transmitter resonators via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; and a fourth plurality of receiver modules, each of which is in wired telecommunication with a corresponding receiver resonator of the third plurality of receiver resonators, and which is configured to receive power from the corresponding receiver resonator and to convert the received power into DC form via wired telecommunication with the power load.

[0035] Each of the first plurality of transmitting modules may include a power amplifier configured to adjust the power received from the corresponding photocell at the vibration frequency. Each of the first plurality of transmitting modules may also include an oscillator configured to supply the vibration frequency to the corresponding power amplifier. Each of the first plurality of transmitting modules may further include a controller and one or more sensors, the controller configured to vary the vibration frequency based on first information from at least one of the one or more sensors. Each of the first plurality of transmitting modules may also include a transmit tuning network configured, under the control of the corresponding controller, to change the phase of at least one of the power supplied by the transmitting module to the corresponding transmitter resonator based on second information obtained from at least one of the one or more sensors.

[0036] The system may further comprise a fifth plurality of power adjustment units, each power adjustment unit of the fifth plurality of power adjustment units being electrically connected between a corresponding photovoltaic cell in the array of solar cells and a corresponding transmitting module in the first plurality of transmitting modules, and configured to adapt the power from the corresponding photovoltaic cell to a format compatible with the corresponding transmitting module. Each transmitting module in the first plurality of transmitting modules comprises a small signal electronic circuit, and the corresponding power adjustment unit of the fifth plurality of power adjustment units may further be configured to supply power to the small signal electronic circuit. Each transmitter resonator of the second plurality of transmitter resonators may be located on the surface of the corresponding photovoltaic cell in the array of solar cells, opposite to the dynamic solar radiation receiving surface of the corresponding photovoltaic cell.

[0037] In a further embodiment, a near-field wireless system is provided for transmitting power from an array of photocells to a power load, the system comprising: a first plurality of transmitting modules, each transmitting module being in wired telecommunication with a corresponding photocell in the array and configured to convert power from the corresponding photocell into an oscillating power signal having an oscillating frequency; a second plurality of transmitter resonators, each transmitting resonator being in wired telecommunication with a corresponding transmitting module of the first plurality of transmitting modules and configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency; and a number greater than the plurality of transmitter resonators. A third plurality of receiver resonators, at least, configured to resonate at the aforementioned vibration frequency, each of the third plurality of receiver resonators being arranged to receive power from a portion of the plurality of transmitter resonators via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; and a fourth plurality of receiver modules, each of which is in wired telecommunication with a corresponding receiver resonator, and which is configured to receive power from the corresponding receiver resonator and to convert the received power into DC form via wired telecommunication with the power load.

[0038] Each of the first plurality of transmitting modules may include a power amplifier configured to adjust the power received from the corresponding photocell at the vibration frequency. Each of the first plurality of transmitting modules may also include an oscillator configured to supply the vibration frequency to the corresponding power amplifier. Each of the first plurality of transmitting modules may further include a controller and one or more sensors, the controller configured to vary the vibration frequency based on first information from at least one of the one or more sensors. Each of the first plurality of transmitting modules may also include a transmit tuning network configured, under the control of the corresponding controller, to change the phase of at least one of the power supplied by the transmitting module to the corresponding transmitter resonator based on second information obtained from at least one of the one or more sensors.

[0039] The system may include a fifth plurality of power adjustment units, each of which is electrically connected between a corresponding photocell in the array of solar cells and a corresponding transmitting module in the first plurality of transmitting modules, and is configured to convert the power from the corresponding photocell into a format compatible with the corresponding transmitting module.

[0040] Each of the first plurality of transmitting modules comprises a small signal electronic circuit, and the corresponding power regulating unit of the fifth plurality of power regulating units may further be configured to supply power to the small signal electronic circuit. Each of the second plurality of transmitting resonators may be located on the surface of the corresponding photocell in the array of photocells, opposite to the dynamic solar radiation receiving surface of the corresponding photocell.

[0041] In a further embodiment, a method is provided for transmitting power from a photocell to a power load, the method comprising: in a transmitting module, converting the power from the photocell into an oscillating power signal having an oscillating frequency; transmitting the power to a transmitter resonator configured to be in wired telecommunications with the transmitting module and to resonate at the oscillating frequency; receiving the power in a receiver resonator configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency and arranged to receive power from the transmitter resonator via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; receiving the power in a receiver module in wired telecommunications with the receiver resonator; and converting the received power into a DC form via wired telecommunications with the power load.

[0042] In a further embodiment, a method is provided for transmitting power from an array of photocells to a power load, the method comprising: in each of a first plurality of corresponding transmitting modules, the power from each of the photocells in the array is converted into an oscillating power signal having an oscillating frequency; the power from each of the transmitting modules is transmitted to a corresponding transmitter resonator from a second plurality of transmitter resonators, each of which is configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency; the power is received in a receiver resonator configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency and arranged to receive power from the plurality of transmitter resonators via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; the power is received in a receiver module that is in wired telecommunication with the receiver resonator; and the received power is converted into a DC form via wired telecommunication with the power load.

[0043] In a further embodiment, a method is provided for transmitting power from an array of photocells to a power load, the method comprising: in each of a first plurality of corresponding transmitting modules, the power from each of the photocells in the array is converted into an oscillating power signal having an oscillating frequency; the power from each of the transmitting modules is transmitted to a corresponding transmitter resonator from a second plurality of transmitter resonators, each transmitter resonator being configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency; the power from each transmitter resonator is received in a corresponding receiver resonator configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency, each receiver resonator being further configured and arranged to receive power from the transmitter resonator via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; the power from each receiver resonator is received in a corresponding receiver module that is in wired telecommunication with the receiver resonator; and the received power is converted into DC form via wired telecommunication with the power load.

[0044] In a further embodiment, a method is provided for transmitting power from an array of photocells to a power load, the method comprising: in each transmitting module of a first plurality of corresponding transmitting modules, converting power from each photocell in the array to an oscillating power signal having an oscillating frequency; transmitting power from each transmitting module of the transmitting modules to one transmitter resonator from a second plurality of transmitter resonators, each transmitter resonator configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency; receiving power from each transmitter resonator in any adjacent receiver resonator from a third plurality of receiver resonators configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency, each receiver resonator further configured and positioned to receive power from the transmitter resonator via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; sharing the received power among the third plurality of receiver resonators; and converting the received power into DC form from one or more of the third plurality of receiver resonators through one or more corresponding receiver modules via wired telecommunication with the power load. The method may further include a step of converting the voltage and current of the power from each photocell to voltage and current suitable for the corresponding transmitting module, before converting the power into a vibration power signal.

[0045] A power transmission system is provided for supplying power from a DC power source to a power load, the power transmission system comprising: a radio frequency power amplifier which is in wired telecommunication state with the power source and configured to convert a DC voltage from the power source into an AC voltage signal having an oscillating frequency; an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier which is in wired electrical contact state with the power load and is in radio frequency communication state with the power amplifier, the rectifier being configured to receive power transmitted from the power amplifier; and a receiver controller which is in communication state with the rectifier and configured to adjust the efficiency of power transmission from the power amplifier to the rectifier by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier. The rectifier may be a differential self-synchronizing radio frequency rectifier.

[0046] The receiver controller may be configured to automatically adjust the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier. The power transmission system may further include a load management system that is in wired communication with the power load and is positioned in the power signal direction between the power load and the rectifier, the load management system being configured to increase the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier. The load management system may be configured to automatically adjust the input impedance of the rectifier.

[0047] The power transmission system may further include a transmitter controller in communication with the power amplifier, the transmitter controller configured to increase the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier. The transmitter controller may also be configured to automatically adjust the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier to increase the efficiency of power transmission.

[0048] The power transmission system may further include an oscillator in communication with the power amplifier and the transmitter controller. The transmitter controller may be configured to adjust the vibration frequency using the oscillator.

[0049] The power amplifier may be in direct wired radio frequency communication with the rectifier. The power amplifier may be in wireless near-field radio frequency communication with the adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier. The power transmission system may include a transmitter resonator in wired radio frequency communication with the power amplifier, and a receiver resonator in wired radio frequency communication with the rectifier. The transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator may be in wireless near-field radio frequency communication with each other. The power amplifier may be in communication with the rectifier in at least one of capacitive near-field wireless radio frequency communication and inductive near-field wireless radio frequency communication. The power amplifier may be in a two-way near-field wireless radio frequency communication with the rectifier.

[0050] The DC power supply may include a rechargeable battery, and the power load may include an electric motor. The load may also include a computer monitor. The resonant structure of the system may include at least one conductive mechanical load support structure component of the system.

[0051] The system may further include a power adjustment unit electrically positioned between the power supply and the power transmission system, the power adjustment unit being configured to adjust at least one of the current and voltage from the power supply in order to improve the efficiency of power transmission.

[0052] A method for transmitting power from a DC power source to a power load is further provided, comprising the steps of: providing a power transmission system in wired telecommunication state with the power source, the power transmission system comprising an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier in wired electrical contact state with the power load and a radio frequency power amplifier in radio frequency communication state; converting power from the DC power source to a radio frequency oscillating power signal in the power amplifier; converting the radio frequency oscillating power signal to a DC power signal in the rectifier; and adjusting the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier. Providing the adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier may also include providing a differential self-synchronizing radio frequency rectifier.

[0053] The method described above may further include a step of adjusting the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the DC equivalent input resistance of the power amplifier. The step of providing the power transmission system may include providing a load management system in a wired communication state between the rectifier and the power load. Adjusting the DC equivalent input resistance of the power amplifier may include adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier by adjusting the load management system. The adjustment of the load management system may include automatic adjustment of the load management system.

[0054] The method may further include a step of adjusting the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier. The step of providing the power transmission system may include providing a transmitter controller that is in communication with the power amplifier in order to control the power amplifier. The adjustment of the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier may be performed by the transmitter controller. The adjustment of the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier may be performed automatically by the transmitter controller.

[0055] The method may further include a step of adjusting the power transmission efficiency by changing the vibration frequency of the power amplifier.

[0056] The step of providing the power transmission system may include providing a receiver controller that is in communication with the rectifier in order to control the rectifier. The adjustment of the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier may be performed by the receiver controller. The adjustment of the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier may be performed automatically by the receiver controller.

[0057] The step of providing the power transmission system may include providing the adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier and a power amplifier in a direct wired radio frequency communication state. The step of providing the power transmission system may also include providing the adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier and a power amplifier in a wireless near-field radio frequency communication state.

[0058] The step of providing the power transmission system may include providing a transmitter resonator in a wired radio frequency communication state with the power amplifier, and a receiver resonator in a wired radio frequency communication state with the radio frequency rectifier. The method may further include operating the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator, which are in a wireless near-field radio frequency communication state with each other. The step of providing the power transmission system may include providing a power amplifier in a communication state with the rectifier using at least one of capacitive near-field wireless radio frequency communication and inductive near-field wireless radio frequency communication. The step of providing the power transmission system may also include providing a power amplifier in a two-way near-field wireless communication state with the rectifier.

[0059] The method may further include the steps of providing a power adjustment unit electrically positioned between the power supply and the power transmission system, and adjusting the power adjustment unit to adjust at least one of the current and voltage from the power supply in order to improve the efficiency of power transmission.

[0060] A method is provided for transmitting power from a DC power source to a power load, the method comprising the steps of: providing a power transmission system in wired telecommunication with the power source, the power transmission system comprising an oscillator capable of vibrating at a vibration frequency, a power amplifier and a transmitter tuning network under the control of a transmitter controller, and a receiver tuning network and a load management system under the control of a receiver controller, the load management system comprising a receiver tuning network and a load management system in wired telecommunication with the power load; in the power amplifier, converting power from the power source into a vibration power signal having a vibration frequency; transmitting the power signal from the power amplifier to the load management system via the transmitter tuning network and the receiver tuning network under the control of the transmitter controller; adjusting at least one of the vibration frequency, the input DC equivalent resistance of the power amplifier, the transmitter tuning network, the receiver tuning network, and the load management system in order to change the power transmission speed; and converting the power received by the load management system into DC form via wired telecommunication with the power load.

[0061] The step of transmitting the power signal via the transmitter tuning network and the receiver tuning network may include transmitting power by wired communication. The step of transmitting the power signal via the transmitter tuning network and the receiver tuning network may also include transmitting power by wireless communication. Power transmission by wireless communication may include power transmission by near-field wireless communication. Power transmission by near-field wireless communication may include power transmission by at least one of capacitive coupling and inductive coupling.

[0062] The transmission of power from a DC power source may include the transmission of power from at least one solar cell. The transmission of power from a DC power source may also include the transmission of power from at least one solar cell battery. The transmission of power from a DC power source may also include the transmission of power from a power source with a fluctuating voltage.

[0063] In another embodiment, an electric system is provided, comprising a mechanical load support structure having a first conductive portion, a power load, and a power transmission system comprising at least one radio frequency resonator configured for near-field wireless power transmission, wherein the resonator has at least a partially conductive first portion. The electric system further comprises a rechargeable battery, and the power load may comprise an electric motor. The electric system is an electric vehicle, and the mechanical load support structure may comprise the chassis of the electric vehicle. The electric system is a display monitor, and the mechanical load support structure may comprise at least one of the frame and base of the display monitor.

[0064] The electric system may further include a power supply. The power transmission system may include a radio frequency power amplifier that is in wired telecommunication with the power supply and configured to convert a DC voltage from the power supply into an AC voltage signal having an oscillating frequency; an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier that is in wired electrical contact with the power load and is in radio frequency communication with the power amplifier, the rectifier being configured to receive power transmitted from the power amplifier; and a receiver controller that is in communication with the rectifier and configured to adjust the efficiency of power transmission from the power amplifier to the rectifier by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier.

[0065] In another embodiment, an apparatus is provided comprising a mechanical load support structure having a first conductive portion, a power supply, a power load, and a power transmission system, the power transmission system comprising a radio frequency power amplifier in wired telecommunication state with the power supply and configured to convert a DC voltage from the power supply into an AC voltage signal having an oscillating frequency, an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier in wired electrical contact state with the power load and in radio frequency communication state with the power amplifier, the rectifier being configured to receive power transmitted from the power amplifier, and a receiver controller in communication state with the rectifier, configured to adjust the efficiency of power transmission from the power amplifier to the rectifier by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier, the conductive first portion being arranged to carry a radio frequency signal from the power amplifier and to the rectifier, at least one of which.

[0066] The apparatus may further include a load management system that is in wired communication with the power load and positioned in the power signal direction between the power load and the rectifier, wherein the load management system is configured to increase the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier. The apparatus may further include a transmitter controller that is in communication with the power amplifier, wherein the transmitter controller is configured to increase the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier. The apparatus may further include an oscillator that is in communication with the power amplifier and the transmitter controller, wherein the transmitter controller is configured to adjust the oscillation frequency using the oscillator.

[0067] The power amplifier may be in direct wired radio frequency communication with the rectifier via a conductive first portion. The power amplifier may also be in wireless near-field radio frequency communication with the rectifier. The power transmission system may include a transmitter resonator in wired radio frequency communication with the power amplifier and a receiver resonator in wired radio frequency communication with the rectifier, and one of the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator may include the conductive first portion. The transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator may be in wireless near-field radio frequency communication with each other. The power amplifier may be in communication with the rectifier via at least one of capacitive near-field wireless radio frequency communication and inductive near-field wireless radio frequency communication. The power amplifier may be in two-way near-field wireless radio frequency communication with the rectifier. The DC power supply may include a rechargeable battery, and the power load may include an electric motor.

[0068] Typical embodiments are illustrated in the reference drawings. The embodiments and drawings disclosed herein are intended to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0069] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a wireless power transmission system according to one embodiment. [Figure 2A] Examples of various embodiments include antennas that can be used by themselves or in combination with other elements disclosed. [Figure 2B] Examples of various embodiments include antennas that can be used by themselves or in combination with other elements disclosed. [Figure 2C] Examples of various embodiments include antennas that can be used by themselves or in combination with other elements disclosed. [Figure 3A] Examples of various embodiments include a side view of an antenna that can be used by itself or in combination with other elements disclosed. [Figure 3B] Examples of various embodiments include a side view of an antenna that can be used by itself or in combination with other elements disclosed. [Figure 4A] Examples of various embodiments include a side view of an example of a resonator that can be used by itself or in combination with other elements disclosed. [Figure 4B] Examples of various embodiments include a side view of an example of a resonator that can be used by itself or in combination with other elements disclosed. [Figure 4C] Examples of various embodiments include a side view of an example of a resonator that can be used by itself or in combination with other elements disclosed. [Figure 4D] Examples of various embodiments include a side view of an example of a resonator that can be used by itself or in combination with other elements disclosed. [Figure 5] Examples of various embodiments include cross-sectional views of an example of a resonator that can be used by itself or in combination with other elements disclosed. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram of the primary side of a wireless power transmission system according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram of the secondary side of a wireless power transmission system according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] Examples of various embodiments include schematic diagrams of typical power amplifiers that can be used by themselves or in combination with other disclosed elements. [Figure 9] An example of various embodiments is a schematic diagram of a typical self-synchronizing rectifier that can be used by itself or in combination with other elements disclosed. [Figure 10] Figure 6 shows a detailed schematic diagram of a V / I tuner used to adjust the power signal to a transmitter resonator, as an example. [Figure 11] This is a flowchart of a near-field resonant wireless method for transmitting power in two ways according to an adjustable transmission mode ratio at a resonant power signal oscillation frequency, as shown in one example of an embodiment. [Figure 12] This is a schematic diagram of a multiplex transmitter near-field resonant wireless power transmission system for transmitting power to a single receiver subsystem. [Figure 13A] This represents a multiplex transmitter near-field resonant wireless power transmission system for transmitting power to a single receiver subsystem. [Figure 13B] This represents a multiplex transmitter near-field resonant wireless power transmission system for transmitting power to a single receiver subsystem. [Figure 14] This represents a multiplex transmitter near-field resonant wireless power transmission system for transmitting power to more than one receiver subsystem. [Figure 15] A flowchart of a wireless near-field method for transmitting power from a multiplexer subsystem to a single resonant receiver subsystem at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency is shown. [Figure 16] A flowchart of another wireless near-field method for transmitting power from a multiplexer subsystem to a single resonant receiver subsystem at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency is shown. [Figure 17] A flowchart of a wireless near-field method for transmitting power from a multiplexer subsystem to one or more resonant receiver subsystems at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency is shown. [Figure 18] A flowchart of another wireless near-field method for transmitting power from a multiplexer subsystem to one or more resonant receiver subsystems at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency is shown. [Figure 19A] This document describes a near-field resonant wireless power transmission system for wirelessly transmitting power from a solar cell to a power load. [Figure 19B] This shows a power transmission system for wirelessly transmitting power from solar cells to a power load. [Figure 20A] Figure 19A shows a front view of a solar cell array configured to use the near-field resonant wireless power transmission system in a many-to-one configuration. [Figure 20B]Figure 19A shows a rear view of a solar cell array configured to use the near-field resonant wireless power transmission system in a many-to-one configuration. [Figure 21A] Figure 19A shows a front view of a solar cell array configured to use the near-field resonant wireless power transmission system in a one-to-one configuration. [Figure 21B] Figure 19A shows a rear view of a solar cell array configured to use the near-field resonant wireless power transmission system in a one-to-one configuration. [Figure 22A] Figure 19A shows a front view of a solar cell array configured to use a near-field resonant wireless power transmission system in a row-based configuration. [Figure 22B] Figure 19A shows a rear view of a solar cell array configured to use the near-field resonant wireless power transmission system in a row-based configuration. [Figure 23] This diagram shows a flowchart illustrating a method for wirelessly transmitting power from a solar cell to a power load. [Figure 24] A flowchart illustrating another method for wirelessly transmitting power from a solar cell array to a power load is shown. [Figure 25] A flowchart illustrating another method for wirelessly transmitting power from a solar cell array to a power load is shown. [Figure 26] A flowchart illustrating another method for wirelessly transmitting power from a solar cell array to a power load is shown. [Figure 27A] A partial diagram of an electric vehicle using one embodiment of a power transmission system is shown. [Figure 27B] Another diagram of an electric vehicle using one embodiment of a power transmission system is shown. [Figure 28A] A diagram of a computer monitor using one embodiment of a power transmission system is shown. [Figure 28B] This shows a computer monitor using another embodiment of the power transmission system. [Figure 29]This flowchart shows a method for transmitting power from a DC power source to a power load. [Figure 30] A flowchart illustrating another method of transmitting power from a DC power source to a power load is shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0070] Throughout the following description, specific details will be provided so that those skilled in the art can understand more fully. However, well-known elements may not be shown or described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure this disclosure. Accordingly, the descriptions and drawings should be taken as illustrative rather than restrictive.

[0071] One aspect of the present invention provides a wireless power transmission system comprising a transmitter (also called the primary side) and a receiver (also called the secondary side). Another aspect of the present invention provides a wireless power transmitter which may be used as part of another wireless power transmission system. Another aspect of the present invention provides a wireless power receiver which may be used as part of another wireless power transmission system. Transmitters according to some embodiments of the present invention may include a resonator configured to transmit power by inductive power transmission and / or capacitive power transmission. Similarly, receivers according to some embodiments of the present invention may include a resonator configured to receive power by inductive power transmission and / or capacitive power transmission.

[0072] Figure 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of a wireless power transmission (WPT) system (10) including a primary side (12) and a secondary side (14). The primary side (12) may also be called the transmitter, and the secondary side (14) may also be called the receiver. The primary side (12) includes a transmitter module (20) and a transmitter resonator (30), and the secondary side (14) includes a receiver module (40) and a receiver resonator (50).

[0073] The transmitter module (20) receives power as input, for example, including direct current (DC) power. Although not shown, the transmitter module (20) may include, for example, an inverter, a transmit compensation network, and / or other components as further described herein. The transmitter module (20) transmits power as output, for example, including alternating current (AC) power, to the transmitter resonator (30).

[0074] The transmitter resonator (30) may receive power from the transmitter module (20) as input and output a magnetic field (31A) (e.g., a time-varying magnetic field) and / or an electric field (31B) (e.g., a time-varying electric field). In some embodiments, the transmitter resonator (30) outputs a magnetic field (31A) for the IPT. In some embodiments, the transmitter resonator (30) outputs an electric field (31B) for the CPT. In some embodiments, the resonator (30) outputs a magnetic field (31A) and an electric field (31B) simultaneously to transmit power simultaneously through the CPT and IPT. In some embodiments, the resonator (30) can switch between outputting an electric field (31B) for the CPT, outputting a magnetic field (31A) for the IPT, and outputting a magnetic field (31A) and an electric field (31B) simultaneously to transmit power simultaneously through the CPT and IPT.

[0075] In the presence of a magnetic field (31A), a current may be induced in the receiver resonator (50) due to the IPT. In the presence of an electric field (31B), an alternating potential may be induced on the receiver resonator (50) (or one or more of its antennas).

[0076] When a current is induced in the receiver resonator (50) by the magnetic field (31A), such a current may be output to the receiver module (40). Similarly, when an alternating potential is induced on the receiver resonator (50) by the electric field (31B), a current may flow through the receiver resonator (50) into the receiver module (40).

[0077] The receiver module (40) may receive power (e.g., AC power) from a receiver resonator (50) as input and may output power (e.g., DC power) to a load. The load may be the charge of an energy storage device such as a battery or supercapacitor. In non-limiting examples, the load may include or be an element of an electric bicycle (also called an e-bike or e-car), such as an e-bike, car, or boat, or part of a bike-share fleet. Not shown, the receiver module (40) may include a rectifier, a receiver compensation network, and / or other components as further described herein.

[0078] The WPT system (10) may be configured to adjust the ratio ("transmission mode ratio") between the power transmitted from the transmitter module (20) to the receiver module (40) via the CPT and the power transmitted from the transmitter module (20) to the receiver module (40) via the IPT, for various reasons. For example, the transmission mode ratio may be adjusted to increase the proportion of power delivered by the CPT when the distance between the transmitter resonator (30) and the receiver resonator (50) increases; to increase the proportion of power delivered by the IPT when a living organism (e.g., a human or animal) is in proximity to the WPT system (10); to increase the proportion of power delivered by the CPT when an object (e.g., a metallic object) is in proximity to the WPT system (10); to increase the proportion of power delivered by the CPT when the alignment between the transmitter resonator (30) and the receiver resonator (50) deteriorates; and / or to do any combination of the foregoing.

[0079] In some embodiments, the transmission mode ratio may be adjusted according to a maximum power point tracking technique, such as “Observation and Perturbation,” which is sometimes used in wind turbines and solar panels (see, for example, S. Dehghani, S. Abbasian and T. Johnson, “Adjustable Load With Tracking Loop to Improve RF Rectifier Efficiency Under Variable RF Input Power Conditions,” in IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, vol. 64, no. 2, pp. 343-352, Feb. 2016). In some embodiments, the transmission mode ratio may be adjusted according to a machine learning algorithm. For example, in some embodiments, if the WPT system (10) determines that the WPT efficiency is unnecessarily low, the WPT system (10) increases the proportion of power delivered by the CPT (or IPT). If WPT efficiency is negatively affected by increasing the dependence on CPT (or IPT), the WPT system (10) may reduce the dependence on CPT (or IPT). This process may be repeated iteratively until the desired / maximum WPT efficiency is reached.

[0080] Each of the transmitter resonator (30) and the receiver resonator (50) may include multiple antennas (80) arranged in various configurations.

[0081] Antenna (80) may include any suitable antenna having high self-inductance and high self-capacitance capable of producing both a magnetic field (31A) and an electric field (31B) for CPT and IPT (individually and / or simultaneously). Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C show non-limiting examples of antennas (80), (180), and (280). For the purposes of this specification, “high self-inductance” is a self-inductance that is large enough for the antenna to produce a magnetic field suitable for IPT. Similarly, for the purposes of this specification, “high self-capacitance” is a self-capacitance that is large enough for the antenna to produce an electric field suitable for CPT.

[0082] Figure 2A shows an antenna (80) according to one embodiment of the present invention. The antenna (80) may also include any suitable conductive material. For example, the antenna (80) may include copper, gold, silver, aluminum, other suitable materials, or a combination thereof. As can be seen from Figure 2A, the antenna (80) includes elongated elements (80A) having a rectangular (e.g., square) cross-section, which is generally bent or formed into the shape of a planar rectangular (XY plane) coil, such that adjacent windings of the elongated elements (80A) are separated by gaps (80B). The gaps (80B) are generally constant along the length of the elongated elements (80), but this is not mandatory.

[0083] To increase the self-inductance of the antenna (80), the size of the gap (80B) may be reduced. To increase the self-capacitance of the antenna (80), the number of bends (e.g., bends (82A)) of the elongated element (80A) may be increased, the number of corners and edges (e.g., edges (82B)) of the elongated element (80A) may be increased, the length of the elongated element (80A) may be increased, and / or the thickness (80C) of the elongated element (80A) may be increased.

[0084] Figure 2B shows another non-limiting example of an antenna (180) according to another embodiment of the present invention. Antenna (180) is substantially similar to the first antenna (80), except that the elongated elements (180A) are bent or formed into a generally planar zigzag shape with square corners, as shown in Figure 2B, instead of being bent or formed into a generally planar rectangular coil shape. Like antenna (80), adjacent zigzags or zags of the elongated elements (180A) are separated by gaps (180B). The gaps (180B) are generally represented as constant along the length of the elongated elements (180), but this is not mandatory.

[0085] To increase the self-inductance of the antenna (180), the size of the gap (180B) may be reduced. To increase the self-capacitance of the antenna (180), the number of bends (e.g., bends (182A)) of the elongated element (180A) may be increased, the number of corners and edges (e.g., edges (182B)) of the elongated element (180A) may be increased, and / or the thickness (180C) of the elongated element (180A) may be increased.

[0086] Figure 2C shows another non-limiting example of an antenna (280) according to another embodiment of the present invention. Antenna (280) is substantially similar to the first antenna (80), except that instead of the elongated elements (280A) being bent or formed into the shape of a planar rectangular coil, sector elements (280C) are bent or formed into a generally planar circular shape (in the XY plane) having hub elements (280A) that extend radially outward. Adjacent sector elements (280C) are separated from each other by gaps (280B).

[0087] To increase the self-inductance of the antenna (280), the size of the gap (280B) may be reduced. To increase the self-capacitance of the antenna (280), the number of sectors (280C) may be increased, the number of corners and edges (e.g., edges (282A)) of the hub (280A) and / or sector (280C) may be increased, and / or the thickness (280C) of the elongated hub (280A) and / or sector (280C) may be increased.

[0088] Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C show typical, non-limiting embodiments of antennas (80), (180), and (280), but it will be understood that many other shapes and configurations of suitable antenna (80) may be used in the resonators described herein. Non-limiting examples of modifications that may be made to the shown antennas include changing the cross-sectional shape of the elongated elements (80A), (180A) to something other than rectangular (e.g., triangular, circular, hexagonal), changing the 90° bends (82A), (182A) to non-90° or rounded shapes, or changing the XY plane shape of the first transmitter antenna (80) to something other than rectangular or circular using non-repeating patterns such as bends and angles.

[0089] Although antennas (80), (180), and (280) are described and shown herein as being relatively flat or planar (e.g., with substantially no variation in thickness in the Z direction), this is not essential. In some embodiments, antennas (80), (180), and (280) may have a conical concave or conical convex shape as shown in Figures 3A and 3B. For example, the antennas herein have a conical helical shape (not shown). In some embodiments, antenna (80) has a rectangular conical helical shape such that the inner winding of antenna (80) is separated from the outer winding of antenna (80) in the Z direction. Such a conical shape allows the resonator to be used over a wider range of resonant frequencies. In other embodiments, the thickness of the first transmitter antenna in the Z direction may vary in other ways.

[0090] Antennas (80), (180), and (280) may be arranged in a configuration similar to that of a plate in a WPT system of a CPT, for example. For example, in a two-antenna WPT system according to one embodiment of the present invention, the transmitter resonator (30) may include a first transmitter antenna (32) arranged parallel to the first receiver antenna (52) of the receiver resonator (50), as shown in Figure 4A. For CPT, the mutual capacitance between the two antennas (32) and (52) provides a path for current to flow forward to the receiver, and a conductive path (e.g., ground) allows current to flow backward to the transmitter. For IPT, a magnetic field (31A) is generated that can induce current in the first receiver antenna (52) by carrying current through the first transmitter antenna (32). For CPT, a voltage can be applied to the first transmitter antenna (32) to create a potential difference between the first transmitter antenna (32) and the first receiver antenna (52), thereby creating an electric field (31B).

[0091] The first transmitter antenna (32) may have any suitable antenna having high self-inductance and high self-capacitance that can produce both a magnetic field (31A) and an electric field (31B) (individually and / or simultaneously). For example, the first transmitter antenna may include antennas (80), (180), (280), or any other antenna described herein.

[0092] The first receiver antenna (52) may include any suitable antenna having high self-inductance and high self-capacitance, which may have a current induced therein by a magnetic field (31A) and a potential difference thereon due to an electric field (31B) (individually and / or simultaneously). In some embodiments, the first receiver antenna (52) may be substantially similar to the first transmitter antenna (32) (for example, the first receiver antenna (52) may have the same characteristics as any of the antennas described or shown herein or otherwise). In some embodiments, the antennas (32) and (52) may be different from each other (for example, the first transmitter antenna (32) may include antenna (80), and the first receiver antenna (52) may include antenna (180)).

[0093] In some embodiments, the XY plane region of the first transmitter antenna (32) is smaller than the XY plane region of the first receiver antenna (52) in order to improve the coupling between the first transmitter antenna (32) and the first receiver antenna (52).

[0094] Figure 4B shows another embodiment of the antenna configurations (80), (180), and (280). In particular, Figure 4B shows a WPT system of four stacked antennas (or four vertical antennas). Each of the transmitter resonator (130) and receiver resonator (150) includes two antennas. One antenna of the transmitter resonator (30) and one antenna of the receiver resonator (150) together provide a forward path for power, while the other antenna of the transmitter resonator (130) and the other antenna of the receiver resonator (150) together provide a backward path for power.

[0095] For IPT, a magnetic field is generated that can induce current in the first and second receiver antennas (152) and (154) by carrying current through the transmitter antennas (132) and (134). For CPT, an electric field (shown as 31B in Figure 1) can be generated by applying a potential difference between the first and second antennas (132) and (134) to induce a potential across the first and second receiver antennas (152) and (154).

[0096] As shown in Figure 4B, the transmitter resonator (130) comprises a first transmitter antenna (132) and a second transmitter antenna (134), separated in the Z direction by a spacer (138).

[0097] The first transmitter antenna (132) includes any suitable antenna having high self-inductance and high self-capacitance, which can produce both a magnetic field (31A) and an electric field (31B) (individually and / or simultaneously). For example, the first transmitter antenna may include any one of antennas (80), (180), (280), or any other antenna described herein.

[0098] The spacer (138) may contain any suitable material. For example, the spacer (138) may contain air, a dielectric material, ferrite, or some combination thereof. The spacer (138) may have a dielectric constant selected to vary the electric field (31A) and / or a permeability constant selected to vary the magnetic field (31B). The spacer (138) may contain a high dielectric constant material that increases the capacitance of the transmitter resonator (130). The thickness and planar area of ​​the spacer (138) may depend on the thickness and / or planar area of ​​the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second transmitter antenna (134). In some embodiments, electrical isolation may be desirable, and a low dielectric constant material may be used for the spacer (138) (e.g., for shielding).

[0099] The second transmitter antenna (134) may have any suitable antenna having high self-inductance and high self-capacitance, which can generate a magnetic field (31A) and an electric field (31B) (individually and / or simultaneously). In some embodiments, the second transmitter antenna (134) may be substantially similar to the first transmitter antenna (132) (for example, the second transmitter antenna (134) may have the same characteristics as any of the antennas described or shown herein or otherwise). In some embodiments, the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second transmitter antenna (134), as well as the first receiver antenna (152) and the second receiver antenna (154), may be different from each other (for example, the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second transmitter antenna (134) may be similar, and the first receiver antenna (152) and the second receiver antenna (154) may be similar to antenna (180)).

[0100] In some embodiments, the XY plane region of the second transmitter antenna (134) may be different in size from the XY plane region of the first transmitter antenna (132). In some embodiments, the XY plane region of the second transmitter antenna (134) may be smaller than that of the first transmitter antenna (132) to ensure coupling between each pair of antennas. In some embodiments, the XY plane region of the second transmitter antenna (134) may be larger than that of the first transmitter antenna (132).

[0101] In some embodiments, the second transmitter antenna (134) is substantially complementary to the first antenna (132) in size and / or shape, such that the first transmitter antenna (132) does not substantially overlap with the second transmitter antenna (134) in the Z direction. Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-section of a portion of the XZ plane of the transmitter resonator (130), in which the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second transmitter antenna (134) are substantially formed as the first transmitter antenna (180) in Figure 2B. As described above, the elongated elements (132A) (132A-1), (132A-2), and (132A-3) of the first transmitter antenna (132) overlap in the Z direction with the gaps (134B-1), (134B-2), and (134B-3) of the second transmitter antenna (134) (for example, a line oriented in the Z direction passing through the elongated element (132A) (132A-1) of the first antenna (132) passes through the gap (134B-1) of the second antenna (134) ), and portions (134A-1), (134A-2), and (134A-3) of the elongated element (134A) of the second transmitter antenna (134) overlap in the Z direction with the gaps (132B-1), (132B-2), and (132B-3) of the first transmitter antenna (132) (for example, a line oriented in the Z direction passing through portion (134A-1) of the elongated element (134A) of the second antenna (134) also passes through the gap (132B-1) of the second antenna (134)). The complementary shapes of the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second antenna (134) can reduce the parasitic energy loss experienced by the transmitter resonator (130). In some embodiments, the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second transmitter antenna (134) may have one or more complementary parts, although they may not be entirely complementary.

[0102] The receiver resonator (150) includes a first receiver antenna (152) and a second receiver antenna (154), separated in the Z direction by a spacer (158). The first receiver antenna (152) may be substantially similar to any of antennas (80), (180), (280), or any other described herein. The second receiver antenna (154) may be substantially similar to any of antennas (80), (180), (280), or any other described herein. The first receiver antenna (152) and the second receiver antenna (154) may be complementary (or partially complementary) in size and / or shape, as with the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second transmitter antenna (134).

[0103] In some embodiments, the XY plane regions of the first receiver antenna (152) and the second receiver antenna (154) differ from the XY plane regions of the first and second transmitter antennas shown in Figure 4B in order to adjust the self-inductance or self-capacitance of the receiver resonator (150). For example, in some embodiments, the XY plane regions of the first receiver antenna (152) and the second receiver antenna (154) may be larger than the XY plane regions of the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second transmitter antenna (134) shown in Figure 2A. Such differences in the XY plane regions may improve the ability of the receiver resonator (150) to capture more magnetic fields (31A) and / or electric fields (31B).

[0104] Spacer (158) may include any suitable spacer. Spacer (158) may contain the same or similar material as spacer (138), or a different material than spacer (138). Compared to spacer (158), spacer (138) may have smaller dimensions in the Z direction to achieve the desired self-capacitance and / or self-inductance. This allows for an effective modification of the coupling coefficient of the connection between the primary side (12) and the secondary side (14), and the impedance of the primary side (12). Different compensation networks may be used on both the primary side (12) and the secondary side (14) to adapt to such changes in coupling coefficient and impedance.

[0105] Compared to the parallel configuration of four antennas shown in Figure 4C, the stacked configuration in Figure 4B is much more compact in the XY plane. In addition, this configuration is robust to angular misalignment because all antennas can be center-aligned. Specifically, if the antennas are circular in shape, angular rotation does not affect the coupled capacitance. However, compared to the parallel configuration of four antennas shown in Figure 4C, the transconductance of the stacked configuration in Figure 4B may decrease due to the increased mutual coupled capacitance.

[0106] Figure 4C shows another embodiment of the antenna configurations (80), (180), and (280). Specifically, Figure 4C shows a WPT system with four parallel antennas (or four horizontal antennas). Each of the transmitter resonator (230) and receiver resonator (250) includes two antennas. One antenna of the transmitter resonator (230) and one antenna of the receiver resonator (250) together provide a forward path for power, while the other antenna of the transmitter resonator (230) and the other antenna of the receiver resonator (250) provide a backward path for power.

[0107] For IPT, a magnetic field is generated that can induce current in the first receiver antenna (252) and the second receiver antenna (254) by carrying current through the transmitter antennas (232) and (234). For CPT, an electric field (31B) is generated by creating a potential difference between the first antenna (232) and the second antenna (234), which can induce a potential across the first receiver antenna (252) and the second receiver antenna (254).

[0108] Compared to the transmitter resonator (130) and receiver resonator (150) shown in Figure 4B, the transmitter resonator (230) and receiver resonator (250) with a horizontal antenna configuration may be preferable in applications where there are limitations on the Z-axis dimension of the resonator.

[0109] The transmitter resonator (230) comprises a first transmitter antenna (232) and a second transmitter antenna (234), separated in the X direction by a spacer (238). By separating the first transmitter antenna (232) and the second transmitter antenna (234) in the X direction, parasitic energy losses can be reduced. The first transmitter antenna (232) and the second transmitter antenna (234) may be substantially similar to the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second transmitter antenna (134), and the spacer (238) may be substantially similar to the spacer (138). As in the transmitter resonator (130), the first transmitter antenna (232) may have a larger XY plane region than the second transmitter antenna (234) in order to improve the forward path for transmitting power.

[0110] The spacer (238) may contain any suitable material. For example, the spacer (238) may contain air, a dielectric material, ferrite, or a combination thereof. The spacer (238) may have a dielectric constant selected to vary the electric field (31A) and / or a permeability constant selected to vary the magnetic field (31B). The spacer (238) may contain a high dielectric constant material that increases the capacitance of the transmitter resonator (230). The thickness and planar area of ​​the spacer (238) may depend on the thickness and / or planar area of ​​the first transmitter antenna (232) and the second transmitter antenna (234). In some embodiments, electrical isolation may be desirable, and a low dielectric constant material may be used for the spacer (238) (e.g., for shielding).

[0111] The receiver resonator (250) comprises a first receiver antenna (252) and a second receiver antenna (254) separated in the X direction by a spacer (258). By separating the first receiver antenna (252) and the second receiver antenna (254) in the X direction, parasitic energy losses can be reduced. The first receiver antenna (252) and the second receiver antenna (254) may be substantially similar to the first receiver antenna (152) and the second receiver antenna (154), and the spacer (258) may be substantially similar to the spacer (138). As in the receiver resonator (150), the first receiver antenna (252) may have a larger XY plane region than the second receiver antenna (254).

[0112] Spacer (258) may include any suitable spacer. Spacer (258) may contain the same or similar material as spacer (238), or a different material than spacer (238). Compared to spacer (258), spacer (238) may have smaller dimensions in the Z direction to achieve the desired self-capacitance and / or self-inductance. This allows for an effective modification of the coupling coefficient of the connection between the primary side (12) and the secondary side (14), and the impedance of the primary side (12). Different compensation networks may be used on both the primary side (12) and the secondary side (14) to adapt to such changes in coupling coefficient and impedance.

[0113] In some embodiments, the XY plane region of spacer (258) may differ from the XY plane region of spacer (238) in order to change the self-inductance or self-capacitance of the transmitter resonator (230) or receiver resonator (250). For example, spacer (238) may have a smaller XY plane region, as shown, compared to spacer (258).

[0114] Figure 4D shows another embodiment of the configuration of antennas (80), (180), and (280). Specifically, Figure 4D shows a six-antenna WPT system combining the stacked configuration of Figure 4B and the parallel configuration of Figure 4C. Each of the transmitter resonator (130) and receiver resonator (150) comprises three antennas. One of the first transmitter antenna (332) and the second transmitter antenna (334) and one of the first receiver antenna (352) and the second receiver antenna (354) together provide a forward path for power, and the other of the first transmitter antenna (332) and the second transmitter antenna (334) and the other of the first receiver antenna (352) and the second receiver antenna (354) together provide a backward path for power. The third transmitter antenna (336) and the third receiver antenna (356) function as auxiliary antennas that increase equivalent self-capacitance and function as field shields. In some embodiments, the third transmitter antenna (336) and the third receiver antenna (356) are passive (e.g., no potential difference is applied between the third transmitter antenna (336) and the third receiver antenna (356), and / or no current is carried through the third transmitter antenna (336) and the third receiver antenna (356)). For IPT, a magnetic field is generated that can induce a current in the first receiver antennas (352), (354), (356) by carrying a current through one or more of the transmitter antennas (332), (334), (336). For CPT, a potential difference is applied to the first transmitter antenna (332), the second transmitter antenna (334), and / or the third transmitter antenna (336), creating a potential difference between the first transmitter antenna (332), the second transmitter antenna (334), and the third transmitter antenna (336), thereby creating an electric field (31B).

[0115] The transmitter resonator (330) comprises a first transmitter antenna (332) and a second transmitter antenna (334) separated in the X direction by a spacer (338), and a third transmitter antenna (336) separated from the first and second transmitter antennas and the spacer (338) by a second spacer (339). The third transmitter antenna (336) may provide an electric field shield to reduce undesirable leakage of electric fields from the transmitter resonator (330). The third transmitter antenna (336) may include a ferrite sheet or ferrite surface to provide a magnetic field shield to reduce undesirable leakage of magnetic fields from the transmitter resonator (330). Shielding or formation of electric or magnetic fields may be possible by changing the spacer (339).

[0116] The first transmitter antenna (332), the second transmitter antenna (334), and the third transmitter antenna (336) may be substantially similar to either the first transmitter antenna (132) or the second transmitter antenna (134). The spacers (338) and (339) may be substantially similar to the spacer (138). Like the transmitter vibrator (130), the first transmitter antenna (332) may have a larger XY plane region than the second transmitter antenna (334). The third transmitter antenna (336) may have a larger XY plane region than either the first transmitter antenna (334) or the second transmitter antenna (332).

[0117] The spacers (338), (339) may contain any suitable material. For example, the spacers (338), (339) may contain air, a dielectric material, ferrite, or a combination thereof. The spacers (338), (339) may have a dielectric constant selected to vary the electric field (31A) and / or a permeability constant selected to vary the magnetic field (31B). The spacers (338), (339) may contain a high dielectric constant material that increases the capacitance of the transmitter resonator (230). The thickness and planar area of ​​the spacers (338), (339) may depend on the thickness and / or planar area of ​​the first transmitter antenna (332), the second transmitter antenna (334), and the third transmitter antenna (336). In some embodiments, electrical isolation may be desirable, and low dielectric constant materials may be used for the spacers (338), (339) (e.g., for shielding).

[0118] The receiver resonator (350) comprises a first receiver antenna (352) and a second receiver antenna (354) separated in the X direction by a spacer (358), and a third receiver antenna (356) separated from the first and second receiver antennas and spacer (358) by a second spacer (359). The third receiver antenna (356) may provide an electric field shield to reduce undesirable leakage of electric fields from the receiver resonator (350). The third receiver antenna (356) may include a ferrite sheet or ferrite surface to provide a magnetic field shield to reduce undesirable leakage of magnetic fields from the transmitter. Shielding or formation of electric or magnetic fields may be possible by changing the spacer (359). The first receiver antenna (352), the second transmitter antenna (354), and the third transmitter antenna (356) may be substantially similar to either the first receiver antenna (152) or the second transmitter antenna (154). The spacers (358) and (359) may be substantially similar to the spacer (158). Like the receiver resonator (150), the first receiver antenna (352) may have a larger XY plane region than the second receiver antenna (354). The third receiver antenna (356) may have a larger XY plane region than either the first receiver antenna (354) or the second receiver antenna (352).

[0119] Spacers (358), (359) may include any suitable spacers. Spacers (358), (359) may contain the same, similar, or different materials as spacers (338), (339) or spacers (338), (339). Compared to spacers (358), (359), spacers (338), (339) may have smaller dimensions in the Z direction to achieve the desired self-capacitance and / or self-inductance. This allows for effective modification of the coupling coefficient of the connection between the primary side (12) and the secondary side (14), and the impedance of the primary side (12). Different compensation networks may be utilized on both the primary side (12) and the secondary side (14) to adapt to such changes in coupling coefficient and impedance.

[0120] In some embodiments, the XY plane region of spacer (358) may differ from that of spacer (338) in order to change the self-inductance or self-capacitance of the transmitter resonator (330) or receiver resonator (350). For example, spacer (338) may have a smaller dimension in the X direction compared to spacer (358). In some embodiments, the Z direction dimension of spacer (359) may differ from that of spacer (339) in order to change the self-inductance or self-capacitance of the transmitter resonator (330) or receiver resonator (350). For example, spacer (339) may have a smaller dimension in the Z direction compared to spacer (359). This allows for an effective modification of the coupling coefficient of the connection between the primary side (12) and the secondary side (14), and the impedance of the primary side (12). To adapt to such changes in coupling constants and impedance, different compensation networks may be used on both the primary (12) and secondary (14) sides.

[0121] In some embodiments, a magnetic shield may be provided around one or more of the transmitter resonators (30) and receiver resonators (50). For example, ferrite may be used as a magnetic shield and to reduce undesirable eddy currents in nearby metallic objects. Further use of ferrite (or other suitable material) may isolate the transmitter resonators (30) and / or receiver resonators (50) from surrounding metallic objects, and thus the ferrite (or other suitable material) may function to increase the self-inductance of the antenna and / or mutual inductance of the resonators.

[0122] Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of the primary side (12) comprising a transmitter module (20) and a transmitter resonator (30) according to one embodiment of the present invention. The transmitter resonator (30) may include transmitter resonators (30), (130), (230), (330), or others as described herein.

[0123] The transmitter module (20) includes a controller (22). The controller (22) is configured to receive various inputs from sensors (24) (e.g., a load detector (24A), a transmitter power sensor (24B), an ambient object detector (24C), and / or a distance detector (24D)) and to output control signals to various components (26) (e.g., an oscillator (26A), a power amplifier (26B), a filter network (26C), a matching network (26D), a compensation network (26E), and a V / I tuner (26F)).

[0124] The load detector (24A) is configured to detect the presence of a load (70) (shown in Figure 7) connected to the secondary side (14). The load (70) may be, for example, the battery of an electric vehicle such as an e-bicycle or electric car, or any other suitable item requiring a power input. The load detector (24A) may be implemented together with a physical sensor (e.g., a light sensor, pressure sensor, infrared sensor, or proximity sensor, without limitation) and appropriate software or firmware. For example, in some embodiments, power (e.g., current and voltage) is measured at a point (24E) to determine the power consumed by the transmitter resonator (30) (e.g., measured by a transmitter power sensor (24B)). If the amount of power consumed by the transmitter resonator (30) increases above a baseline, the load detector (24A) may signal to the controller (22) that a load (70) is present.

[0125] In other embodiments, the load detector (24A) may be configured by the transmitter module (20) to measure the input impedance of the transmitter resonator (30) experienced at point (24E). For example, if a resonant load is present adjacent to the transmitter resonator (30), including a secondary side (14) configured to drive a load (70), the input impedance of the transmitter resonator (30) changes. This impedance change provided to the controller (22) by the load detector (24A) may be used by the transmitter controller (22) to determine whether a coordinating receiver is present adjacent to the transmitter resonator (30). Since the impedance change induced in the transmitter resonator (30) by different receivers is very distinct and characteristic, the controller (22) can not only detect the presence or absence of a receiver adjacent to the transmitter resonator (30), but also identify the type of receiver, such as a different model of mobile phone or digital tablet, for example, but not limited to.

[0126] The transmitter power sensor (24B) can measure power at time (24E) (e.g., measure current and voltage) to determine how much power is being consumed by the transmitter resonator (30). Such information may be used, for example, by a load detector (24A) or to determine whether a desired efficient coupling exists between the transmitter resonator (30) and the receiver resonator (50).

[0127] The ambient object detector (SOD)(24C) is configured to determine whether an object (e.g., a living thing such as a person or animal, or an inanimate object such as a piece of metal or something else) is in proximity to the transmitter resonator (30). The SOD(24C) may be implemented using a physical sensor (e.g., without limitation, a light sensor, pressure sensor, infrared sensor, proximity sensor, RADAR, or LIDAR) or as appropriate software or firmware. For example, if the power consumed by the transmitter resonator (30) during IPT (measured by the transmitter power sensor (24B)) decreases, the SOD software may determine that a piece of metal (or any conductor) is in proximity to the transmitter resonator (30) or the receiver resonator (50), and the SOD may provide a signal to the controller (22) indicating such presence. In some embodiments, if a metallic object is detected in close proximity to the transmitter resonator (30) or receiver resonator (50), the controller (22) may increase the proportion of power delivered to the transmitter module (20) by the CPT. If no organism is detected by the SOD(24C), the controller (22) may be configured to increase the power supplied to the transmitter resonator (30) (for example, above the adjustment level in the presence of an organism), or if an organism is detected in close proximity by the SOD(24C), the controller (22) may be configured to decrease the power supplied to the transmitter resonator (30) below the adjustment level.

[0128] The distance detector (24D) is configured to determine the distance between the transmitter resonator (30) and the receiver resonator (50). The distance detector (24D) may be implemented in conjunction with a physical sensor (e.g., without limitation, an optical sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a proximity sensor, a radar, or a lidar) or by appropriate software or firmware. For example, the distance detector (24D) may be configured to determine the distance between the transmitter resonator (30) and the receiver resonator (50) based on a change in the transmitted power measured by a transmitter power sensor (24B).

[0129] In one embodiment, one or more temperature sensors can monitor the temperature in the transmitter resonator (30) or the receiver resonator (50). If the temperature exceeds a predetermined limit, the controller (22) can cause the transmitter module (20) to reduce the percentage of power delivered by the IPT, reduce the total power supplied to the transmitter resonator (30), or cut off the power supply to the transmitter resonator (30) to prevent fire hazard or thermal runaway.

[0130] The oscillator (26A) may be configured to control the frequency band and / or bandwidth and / or duty cycle (phase) (e.g., 5% to 50%) of the current delivered to the transmitter resonator (30) in response to a signal from the controller (22).

[0131] The power amplifier (26B) may be used to convert DC power to AC power. The power amplifier (26B) may be used to adjust the power supplied to the transmitter resonator (30) in response to a signal from the controller (22). Specifically, the controller (22) can send a signal to the power amplifier (26B) to adjust its reflection coefficient. In some embodiments, the controller (22) can send a signal to the power amplifier (26B) to turn off the power (put it into sleep mode) when the load detector (24A) does not detect a load, or to turn on the power when the load detector (24A) detects a load.

[0132] The power amplifier (26B) includes a switching power amplifier (in single-ended or differential configuration) that can receive a square (sine) wave from the oscillator (26A) and generate a sine wave of a desirable natural frequency to drive the transmitter resonator (30). Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary power amplifier (26B) that can be used in the transmitter (30). The power amplifier (26B) may be a differential class F amplifier. The power amplifier (26B) has three inputs, namely: two input signals (127A) and (127B) that drive active elements (transistors) (127C) and (127D) at frequencies set at the resonant frequency, and a DC voltage (127E) used to control the output power and operating region of the active elements.

[0133] Different load terminations are used to improve performance (e.g., output power, power conversion efficiency) and reduce unnecessary harmonic levels. Specifically, a third high-frequency termination (127F) is placed in a series branch to form a voltage waveform at the drain node (127G). A second harmonic termination (127H) is placed in a parallel branch to form a voltage waveform at the drain node (127G). A first harmonic termination (127I) is placed in a series branch to form a voltage waveform at the drain node (127G). The effect of the third harmonic termination may be considered in the second and first harmonic terminations (127H) and (127I). The effect of the second harmonic termination may be considered in the first harmonic termination (127I). For the differential configuration of the power amplifier (26B), the AC load (127J) (receiving output power) is placed in series. The charge rate AC load (127J) may be a function of the transmitter resonator (30), the receiver resonator (50), and / or their alignment and position. The power amplifier (26B) may be configured to generate sufficient power to the transmitter resonator (30) so that an electric field, a magnetic field, or any combination of electric and magnetic fields may be generated by the transmitter resonator (30) and captured by the receiver resonator (50).

[0134] The filter network (26C) can adjust the frequency response, including bandwidth, cutoff frequency, 3dB frequency, and gain provided to the transmitter resonator (30), in response to the signal from the controller (22). The filter network may be configured to adjust the shape of the power waveform in the transmitter module (20) in order to increase the efficiency of the transmitter module (20).

[0135] The matching network (26D) may be configured to adjust the impedance to match the output of the power amplifier (26B) to the transmitter resonator (30).

[0136] A compensation network (26E) may be provided to drive the transmitter resonator (30) at a desired resonant frequency (e.g., the resonant frequency of the receiver resonator), thereby increasing mutual flux, reducing heat generation, and improving power transmission efficiency. The compensation network (26E) may include one or more capacitors for increasing capacitance and one or more inductors for increasing inductance. The compensation network (26E) may be configured to increase capacitance (and / or decrease inductance) and increase inductance (and / or decrease capacitance) as needed. When the transmission mode ratio is 100% CPT, the compensation network (26E) can function in a manner similar to any known CPT compensation network (e.g., the compensation network (26E) can function to increase inductance). Similarly, when the transmission mode ratio is 100% IPT, the compensation network (26E) can function in a manner similar to any known IPT compensation network (for example, the compensation network (26E) can function to increase capacitance). However, when the transmission modes are partially CPT and partially IPT, less compensation may be required because the capacitance of the transmitter resonator (30) naturally compensates for the inductance of the transmitter resonator (30), and the inductance of the transmitter resonator (30) naturally compensates for the capacitance of the transmitter resonator (30). For example, with approximately 50% IPT and 50% CPT (e.g., a transmission mode ratio equal to 1), the compensation network may not be necessary at all, or its use may be substantially limited, thereby increasing the efficiency of the WPT system (10).

[0137] As another example, between approximately 40-60% IPT and 40-60% CPT, a compensation network may not be necessary at all, or its use may be substantially limited, thereby increasing the efficiency of the WPT system (10). For this reason, the compensation network (26E) may contain fewer or smaller inductors compared to a WPT system of CPT and / or a WPT system of pure IPT that requires substantial compensation. In some embodiments, if the capacitance of the transmitter resonator (30) is sufficiently low, additional compensation may be provided by the compensation network (26E). Similarly, if the inductance of the transmitter resonator (30) is sufficiently low, additional compensation may be provided by the compensation network (26E). The controller (22) may signal the compensation network (26E) how much and what kind of compensation is needed, based, for example, on the transmission mode ratio, the distance between the transmitter resonator (30) and the receiver resonator (50), the amount of power consumed by the transmitter resonator (30), the transmission efficiency, etc.

[0138] In some embodiments, the magnitude of compensation by the compensation network (26E) (e.g., an increase in capacitance or an increase in inductance) is proportional to the absolute difference between the transmission mode ratio and 1. For example, when the transmission mode ratio is greater than 1, the compensation network (26E) may function to increase inductance, and as the transmission mode ratio increases above 1, the amount of increase in inductance may increase. Similarly, when the transmission mode ratio is less than 1, the compensation network (26E) may function to increase capacitance, and as the transmission mode ratio decreases below 1, the amount of increase in capacitance may increase.

[0139] An embodiment of the V / I tuner (26F) is shown in more detail in Figure 10. The input signal to the V / I tuner (26F), received from the matched network (26E) (in Figure 6), is split by a splitter (262) because it has two mutually asymmetric paths (261A) and (261B) for the input signal. A first phase shifter (264A) and a second phase shifter (264B) create a phase difference between the input voltage and input current of the transmitter resonator (30) (in Figure 6). The first phase shifter (264A) is controlled by a controller (22) (in Figure 6) via a first phase splitter control line (263A), and the second phase shifter (264B) is controlled by a controller (22) (see Figure 6) via a second phase splitter control line (263B). The first active switch (266A) and the second active switch (266B) receive signals from the first phase shifter (264A) and the second phase shifter (264B), respectively, and are controlled by the controller (22) via the first active switch control line (265A) and the second active switch control line (265B), respectively. The first active switch (266A) and the second active switch (266B) function to adjust the imaginary part of the signals received from the first phase shifter (264A) and the second phase shifter (264B), respectively. Passive signal shaping networks (268A) and (268B) receive the adjusted signals from the first active switch (266A) and the second active switch (266B), respectively. Passive signal shaping networks (268A) and (268B) function to fine-tune the signals received from the first active switch (266A) and the second active switch (266B), respectively, and in particular to reduce harmonics in those signals before passing them through the combiner (269). The signals provided along the two mutually asymmetric paths (261A) and (261B) are combined by the combiner (269) and provided to the transmitter resonator (30).In other embodiments, the first phase shifter (264A) and the second phase shifter (264B) may be combined as a single phase shifter that receives the input signal to the V / I tuner (26F), and the combined phase shifter may have two separate outputs that work for the active switches (266A) and (266B).

[0140] The V / I tuner (26F) adjusts the transmission mode ratio by adjusting the phase difference between the input current and input voltage to the transmitter resonator (30) in response to a signal from the controller (22). The real part of the impedance observed by the transmitter module (20) is adjusted by phase shifters (264A) and (264B), and its imaginary part can be adjusted by switches (266A) and (266B). For example, a 90-degree phase shift over 3 milliseconds every 10 milliseconds can result in 30% magnetic transmission and 70% power transmission.

[0141] The V / I tuner (26F) may be configured to adjust the current through each transmitter antenna (e.g., the first and second transmitter antennas (32), (132), (232), (332), (134), (234), (334), or the third transmitter antenna (336)) and the potential applied to each transmitter antenna (e.g., the first and second transmitter antennas (32), (132), (232), (332), (134), (234), (334), or the third transmitter antenna (336)).

[0142] When current is passed through both the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second transmitter antenna (134), they each generate a magnetic field (31A) for the IPT. If the current delivered to the second transmitter antenna (134) is less than the current delivered to the first transmitter antenna (132), a potential difference is created between the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second transmitter antenna (134), generating an electric field (31B) for the CPT. To balance between the CPT and the IPT, the current delivered to the second antenna (134) may be regulated (for example, allowing less current to pass through the second antenna (134) results in less IPT, and allowing more current to pass through the second antenna results in more CPT). For example, when it is desired to transmit power via an IPT, the I / V tuner (26F) may be configured to act as a short circuit connecting the first and second transmitter antennas together, thereby creating a series LC resonator that allows current to flow through it. Conversely, when it is desired to transmit power via a CPT, the I / V tuner (26F) may be configured to act as an open circuit that dumps current, thereby creating a potential difference between the first and second transmitter antennas. Thus, the I / V tuner (26F) may be configured to control whether the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second transmitter antenna (134) are effectively connected in series or parallel.

[0143] Alternatively, when the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second transmitter antenna (134) are connected in parallel, the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second transmitter antenna (134) can be floated to generate an electric field (31B) for a CPT in which substantially no magnetic field (31A) is generated. To change the transmission mode ratio (e.g., to adjust between CPT and IPT), the I / V tuner (26F) may be configured (by a multiplexer in the I / V tuner (26F) etc.) to alternately repeat (1) floating the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second transmitter antenna (134) to induce a CPT, and (2) carrying current through the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second transmitter antenna (134) to induce an IPT. The alternating repetitions may be performed in milliseconds or at frequencies between 10 Hz and 10 kHz. If more time is allocated by floating the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second transmitter antenna (134), the transmission mode ratio will be more biased towards CPT, and if more time is allocated by carrying current through the first transmitter antenna (132) and the second transmitter antenna (134), the transmission mode will be more biased towards IPT.

[0144] In some embodiments, the element (26) may be a discrete element in the transmitter module (20), while in other embodiments, one or more of the elements (26) may be part of an integrated circuit design.

[0145] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the secondary side (14) (shown in Figure 1) according to one embodiment of the present invention, which includes a load (70) and a receiver resonator (50) and a receiver module (40).

[0146] The receiver resonator (50) includes any of the receiver resonators (50), (150), (250), (350), or any other described herein. The receiver resonator (50) may be configured to capture power at a frequency set by the oscillation signal of the transmitter module (20), for example, between 1 MHz and 1 GHz.In some embodiments, the frequency set by the oscillation signal of the transmitter module (20) is approximately 1MHz to 100MHz, approximately 1MHz to 200MHz, approximately 1MHz to 300MHz, approximately 1MHz to 400MHz, approximately 1MHz to 500MHz, approximately 1MHz to 600MHz, approximately 1MHz to 700MHz, approximately 1MHz to 800MHz, approximately 1MHz to 900MHz, approximately 1MHz to 1GHz, approximately 100MHz to 200MHz, approximately 100MHz to 300MHz, approximately 100MHz to approx 400MHz, approximately 100MHz to approximately 500MHz, approximately 100MHz to approximately 600MHz, approximately 100MHz to approximately 700MHz, approximately 100MHz to approximately 800MHz, approximately 100MHz to approximately 900MHz, approximately 100MHz to approximately 1GHz, approximately 200MHz to approximately 300MHz, approximately 200MHz to approximately 400MHz, approximately 200MHz to approximately 500MHz, approximately 200MHz to approximately 600MHz, approximately 200MHz to approximately 700MHz, approximately 200MHz to approximately 800MHz, approximately 200MHz to approximately 900MHz, approximately 200MHz to approximately 1GHz, approx. 300MHz-approx. 400MHz, approx. 300MHz-approx. 500MHz, approx. 300MHz-approx. 600MHz, approx. 300MHz-approx. 700MHz, approx. 300MHz-approx. 800MHz, approx. 300MHz-approx. 900MHz, approx. 300MHz-approx. 1GHz, approx. 400MHz-approx. 500MHz, approx. 400MHz-approx. 600MHz, approx. 400MHz-approx. 700MHz, approx. 400MHz-approx. 800MHz, approx. 400MHz-approx. 900MHz, approx. 400MHz-approx. 1GHz, approx. 500MHz-approx. 600MHz These ranges are approximately 500MHz to 700MHz, 500MHz to 800MHz, 500MHz to 900MHz, 500MHz to 1GHz, 600MHz to 700MHz, 600MHz to 800MHz, 600MHz to 900MHz, 600MHz to 1GHz, 700MHz to 800MHz, 700MHz to 900MHz, 700MHz to 1GHz, 800MHz to 900MHz, 800MHz to 1GHz, or 900MHz to 1GHz.In some embodiments, the frequency set by the oscillation signal of the transmitter module (20) is approximately 1 MHz, approximately 100 MHz, approximately 200 MHz, approximately 300 MHz, approximately 400 MHz, approximately 500 MHz, approximately 600 MHz, approximately 700 MHz, approximately 800 MHz, approximately 900 MHz, or approximately 1 GHz. In some embodiments, the frequency set by the oscillation signal of the transmitter module (20) is at least approximately 1 MHz, approximately 100 MHz, approximately 200 MHz, approximately 300 MHz, approximately 400 MHz, approximately 500 MHz, approximately 600 MHz, approximately 700 MHz, approximately 800 MHz, or approximately 900 MHz. In some embodiments, the frequency set by the oscillation signal of the transmitter module (20) is at most approximately 100 MHz, approximately 200 MHz, approximately 300 MHz, approximately 400 MHz, approximately 500 MHz, approximately 600 MHz, approximately 700 MHz, approximately 800 MHz, approximately 900 MHz, or approximately 1 GHz.

[0147] For some applications, frequencies in the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) frequency bands may be preferred. For the purposes of this disclosure, the ISM bands should be understood to be 6.765MHz–6.795MHz; 13.553MHz–13.567MHz; 26.957MHz–27.283MHz; 40.66MHz–40.70MHz; 83.996MHz–84.004MHz; 167.992MHz–168.008MHz; 433.05MHz–434.79MHz; and 886MHz–906MHz. For other applications, frequencies in publicly reserved application bands, such as police communications or military bands, may be preferred, without limitation. The receiver resonator (50) may be configured to capture power from a magnetic field (31A) or an electric field (31B) or any combination of these two fields at its frequency.

[0148] The receiver module (40) includes a controller (42). The controller (42) is configured to receive various inputs from sensors (44) (e.g., a receiver power sensor (44A) and a load detector (44B)) and to output control signals to various elements (46) (e.g., a compensation network (46A), a matching network (46B), a rectifier (46D), a filter (46C), and a load management system (46E)).

[0149] The receiver power sensor (44A) may measure power (e.g., current and voltage) at time (44C) to determine how much power is being received by the receiver resonator (50).

[0150] The load detector (44B) is configured to detect the presence of a load (70). The load detector (44B) may be implemented using a physical sensor (e.g., an optical sensor, pressure sensor, infrared sensor, or proximity sensor, without limitation) or as appropriate software or firmware. For example, in some embodiments, current and voltage are measured by the load detector (44B) to determine, for example, the power being received by the load (50) at point (44D). If the amount of power measured at point (44D) increases above a baseline, the load detector (44B) may signal to the controller (42) that a load (70) is present.

[0151] The compensation network (46A) may be configured to maintain a desired resonant frequency of the receiver resonator (50) in response to a signal from the controller (42), thereby improving the efficiency of power transmission from the transmitter resonator (30) to the receiver resonator (50). The compensation network (46A) may function substantially like the compensation network (26E) of the transmitter module (20).

[0152] The matching network (26D) may be configured to adjust the input impedance of the rectifier (46D) to match the desired impedance of the resonator (30) in order to achieve maximum power transmission.

[0153] A rectifier (46D) may be configured to convert the alternating current power received by the receiver antenna (50) into direct current power in order to provide a load (70).

[0154] The filter (46C) may be configured to shape the waveform of the power output from the rectifier (46D) according to a signal from the controller (42) in order to improve the overall output efficiency of the receiver module (40).

[0155] The load management (46E) may be configured to extract maximum power from the rectifier (46D) by providing the appropriate voltage and current to the load (70) and / or by adjusting its input impedance (e.g., the output impedance of the rectifier (46D)).

[0156] In some embodiments, the management (46E) or other components may be configured to communicate (wirelessly or wired) with an external device (e.g., a load (70)) to provide appropriate information for data analysis. Such information may include, but is not limited to, the presence of the load (70), the charge level of the load (70), the charge rate of the load (70), the state of the load (70), the current voltage, capacity, and / or remaining time to charge the load (70). The load management (46E) may use such information (or transmit such information to the controller (42) or controller (22)) to adjust, for example, the transmission mode ratio in order to achieve optimal energy transfer between the primary side (12) and the secondary side (14). The load management (46E) may also provide such information to the user via a display. Such displays may be built into one or more of the primary side (12) and secondary side (14), or may be accessible via software on a mobile device, such as an application on a mobile phone or tablet communicating wirelessly (or via wired) with the load management (46E) or controller (22) or controller (42).

[0157] In some embodiments, the component (46) is an discrete element within the receiver module (40), while in other embodiments, one or more of the components (46) are part of an integrated circuit design.

[0158] In some embodiments, the primary side (12) may include a plurality of transmitter resonators (30), and / or the secondary side (14) may include a plurality of receiver resonators (50). In such embodiments, each of the transmitter resonators (30) and / or the receiver resonators (50) may be controlled in a similar manner. In other embodiments, each of the transmitter resonators (30) and / or the receiver resonators (50) may be controlled individually. For example, in some embodiments, the primary side (12) may depend more heavily on a transmitter resonator (30) that is experiencing less interference (e.g., due to a nearby metal object), or where there are no living organisms nearby, or where power is transmitted more efficiently, and / or similarly, the secondary side (14) may depend more heavily on a receiver resonator (50) that is experiencing less interference (e.g., due to a nearby metal object), or where there are no living organisms nearby, or where power is received more efficiently. Such control may be provided or facilitated, for example, by communication between a transmitter module (20) and a receiver module (40) and / or between them.

[0159] In some embodiments, the primary side (12) can communicate with the secondary side (14) to share information such as the presence of a load (70), the charge level of the load (70), the power transmission efficiency, the charge rate of the load (70), the state of the load (70), the current voltage, capacity, and the remaining time to charge the load (70) (for example, a controller (22) can communicate with a controller (42)). In some embodiments, such information may be transmitted at a frequency different from the power transmission frequency between the primary side (12) and the secondary side (14). In some embodiments, the power transmission frequency between the primary side (12) and the secondary side (14) may be adjusted to enable communication between the primary side (12) and the secondary side (14) (for example, the amplitude may be adjusted). For example, the primary side (12) and the secondary side (14) may communicate via Bluetooth (e.g., 2.4 GHz) or a frequency similar to the GPS frequency (e.g., 10 GHz). In some embodiments, there may be additional units that can collect data individually and transmit the data back and forth between the primary side (12) and / or the secondary side (14). For example, Wi-Fi may be used to upload data from the primary side (12) and / or the secondary side (14) to an online portal (e.g., a website or mobile application associated with the primary side (12) and / or the secondary side (14)).

[0160] In some embodiments, it may be desirable to transmit power between two receivers (40) (e.g., peer-to-peer power transmission). For example, when the battery of a first e-bicycle equipped with a first receiver is dead or low, and a second e-bicycle equipped with a second receiver and a charged battery (at least partially charged) is nearby, it may be desirable to transmit power from the second e-bicycle to the first e-bicycle (e.g., when there is no transmitter nearby). To enable such power transmission between receivers, a phase shifter is integrated into the rectifier (46D), thereby allowing the receiver to also function as a transmitter.

[0161] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a rectifier (46D) with an integrated phase shifter. In some embodiments, the rectifier (46D) includes a separate phase shifter.

[0162] The rectifier (46D) may be a switching self-synchronous rectifier (in single-ended mode or differential configuration) configured to receive a sinusoidal wave (e.g., AC power) from the receiver resonator (50) at a specific resonant frequency. The rectifier (46D) may be a differential class F self-synchronous rectifier. The rectifier (46D) can capture sufficient power from the receiver resonator (50) so that an electric field, a magnetic field, or any combination of electric and magnetic fields can be captured by the receiver resonator (50).

[0163] The rectifier (46D) has an input (147A) (e.g., AC power) that drives an active element (147B) (e.g., a transistor) at a frequency set to the resonant frequency, and an output (147D) (e.g., DC voltage) across a DC load (used to control the output power, input impedance, and operating region of the active element). In this design, different load terminations are used to improve performance (e.g., output power and power conversion efficiency). A third harmonic termination (147D) is placed in a series branch to form a voltage waveform at the drain node (147E). A second harmonic termination (147F) is placed in a parallel branch to form a voltage waveform at the drain node (147E). A first harmonic termination (147G) is placed in a series branch to form a voltage waveform at the drain node (147E). The effect of the third harmonic termination may be considered in the second and first harmonic terminations. The effect of the second harmonic termination may be taken into consideration in the first harmonic termination.

[0164] In a differential configuration, the AC power supply (147A) is connected in series. The AC power supply (147A) may be a function of the power received by the receiver resonator (50), as well as the alignment and position of the receiver resonator (50) relative to the transmitter resonator (30). The DC load (147C) may be a single-ended load.

[0165] The rectifier (46D) may have two phase shifters (147H) in a differential configuration (but only one in a single-ended configuration). The phase shifter (147H) adjusts the appropriate phase difference between the AC power supply and the gate signal of the transistor (147B). The phase difference between the gate signal and the AC power supply (147A) can change the performance of the self-synchronous rectifier (e.g., the power conversion efficiency and operating range of the transistor). This difference can also change the input impedance of the self-synchronous rectifier (46D) and / or the optimal DC load (147C) of the rectifier (46D).

[0166] The rectifier (46D) may have two level shifters (147I) in a differential configuration (but only one level shifter in a single-ended configuration). The level shifter (147I) can adjust the amplitude appropriately for the gate signal of the transistor (147B). The amplitude level of the gate signal can change the performance of the self-synchronous rectifier (e.g., the power conversion efficiency and operating range of the transistor).

[0167] The WPT system (10) (transmitters and / or receivers as described herein) can be integrated into a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, electric vehicles, electric boats, electric airplanes, electric trucks, e-bikes, electric scooters, and electric skateboards. One exemplary and non-limiting application is a bike-sharing fleet, in which various docking stations are provided integrating one or more transmitters (e.g., primary side (12)), and e-bikes, equipped with a receiver (e.g., secondary side (14)) and a battery (load (70)), can be charged at the docking station.

[0168] In some applications, the primary side (12) or secondary side (14) may be configured to transmit power using other systems not described herein, and even if they are not specifically designed to function with the power transmission systems described herein, the transmission mode ratio may be adjusted from CPT to IPT to provide compatibility with other CPT and / or IPT systems.

[0169] Numerous exemplary embodiments and designs have been described above, and those skilled in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions, and partial combinations thereof. Therefore, the appended claims and the claims introduced below are intended to be construed as encompassing all such modifications, permutations, additions, and partial combinations as are consistent with the broadest interpretation of this entire specification.

[0170] In the first embodiment, each of the systems described above and shown in Figures 1 to 10 forms a dual-mode near-field resonant wireless power transmission system (10) configured to simultaneously perform capacitive power transmission and inductive power transmission according to a transmission mode ratio adjustable by a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency, wherein the system (10) is a transmitter subsystem (12) comprising transmitter antenna subsystems (32), (132), (232), (332), (134), (234), (334), (336) and a power signal tuner module (26F), the tuner module (26F) is used to transmit the transmitter The system comprises: a transmitter subsystem (12) configured to adjust the transmission mode ratio by adjusting the power signals supplied to the antenna subsystems (32), (132), (232), (332), (134), (234), (334), (336); and a receiver subsystem (14) having receiver antenna subsystems (52), (152), (252), (352), (154), (254), (354), (356) configured to receive power from the transmitter antenna subsystems (32), (132), (232), (332), (134), (234), (334), (336) at the transmission mode ratio.

[0171] The tuner module (26F) may be configured to tune the power signals by adjusting the phase difference between the current and voltage of the power signals provided to the transmitter antenna subsystems (32), (132), (232), (332), (134), (234), (334), and (336). The transmitter subsystem (12) may further include a controller (22) and at least one sensor (24), wherein the controller (22) is configured to receive sensor information from at least one sensor (24) and to automatically provide tuning commands to the tuner module (26F) based on the sensor information, and the tuner module (26F) is configured to adjust the phase difference between the voltage and current of the power signals provided to the transmitter antenna subsystems (32), (132), (232), (332), (134), (234), (334), and (336) in accordance with the tuning commands.

[0172] The system (10) resonates at a freely variable resonant frequency within a predetermined band, based on the degree of coupling between the transmitter subsystem (12) and the receiver subsystem (14). The predetermined band may be, for example, a publicly designated or reserved Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band or a band reserved for a specific user, without limitation. The Q factor of the system (10) may be reduced to the extent that the power signal oscillation frequency can vary within the opposing limits of the predetermined frequency band. A reduced Q factor allows the system (10) to utilize any of a number of different resonant frequencies within the predetermined frequency band during the power transmission process. The coupling between the transmitter subsystem (12) and the receiver subsystem (14), and the associated power absorption by the resonant receiver subsystem (14), ensure that little electromagnetic radiation is emitted to the far-field region when the system (10) is operating. Configurations such as those described herein with reference to Figures 1-10, along with the preceding frequency configuration, make the system (10) a two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system. In the wireless power transmission system (10), power is transmitted from the primary subsystem to the secondary subsystem via capacitive coupling, electromagnetic coupling, or both, but not to a substantial extent via electromagnetic radiation.

[0173] Further embodiments described with reference to the aforementioned drawings and the flowchart of Figure 11 provide a near-field wireless communication method

[1000] for transmitting power in two ways according to a transmission mode ratio adjustable at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency, the method comprising: a power signal tuner module (26F); a transmitter subsystem (12) comprising transmitter antenna subsystems (32), (132), (232), (332), (134), (234), (334), (336) configured to resonate at the resonant power signal oscillation frequency

[1010] ; and a receiver subsystem (14) comprising receiver antenna subsystems (52), (152), (252), (352), (154), (254), (354), (356) configured to resonate at the resonant power signal oscillation frequency [1

[020] and; the process of providing a power signal from the tuner module (26F) to the transmitter antenna subsystems (32), (132), (232), (332), (134), (234), (334), (336) at the power signal oscillation resonance frequency

[1030] and; the process of providing a power signal from the tuner module (26F) to the transmitter antenna subsystems (32), (132), (232), (332), (134), (234) The process includes:

[1040] adjusting the transmission mode ratio by adjusting the power signals to (334), (336); and

[1050] receiving the transmitted power at the power signal oscillation resonance frequency in receiver subsystem (14) via receiver antenna subsystems (52), (152), (252), (352), (154), (254), (354), (356) at the transmission mode ratio. The process of adjusting the transmission mode ratio

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

[0174] The step of providing the transmitter subsystem (12)

[1010] may further include providing a controller (22) and at least one sensor (24), and adjusting the phase difference between current and voltage may be performed by the tuner module (26F) via a command of the controller (22) based on sensor information received by the controller (22) from at least one sensor (24). The command of the controller (22) may be issued automatically to the tuner module (26F) when the controller (22) receives sensor information. The tuner module (26F) may automatically execute the command from the controller (22) to change the phase difference.

[0175] Method

[1000] may further include step

[1060] of varying the resonant power signal oscillation frequency within a predetermined frequency band. The predetermined frequency band may be the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) frequency band. Step

[1010] of providing a transmitter subsystem may include providing a transmitter subsystem that is detuned to such an extent that the resonant power signal oscillation frequency can be varied within the conflict limits within the predetermined frequency band.

[0176] In further embodiments described with reference to Figures 12, 13A, and 13B and Figures 1-10, a multiplex transmitter dual-mode near-field resonant wireless power transmission system (10') is configured to perform capacitive and inductive power transmission simultaneously according to a transmission mode ratio adjustable by a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency. System (10') comprises a multiplex transmitter subsystem (12') including a plurality of transmitter resonators (30A')-(30I'), each driven by a corresponding dedicated transmitter module (20A')-(20I'), where each transmitter resonator and corresponding transmitter module (e.g., (30E') and (20E') respectively) follows the description above and the description with reference to Figures 1-10. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of system (10'), in which the transmitter resonators (30A')-(30I') are shown in a row as nine resonators, but their formal spatial positions are not shown. Embodiments of the spatial layout of the multiplex transmitter subsystem (12') are shown in Figures 13A and 13B and described below. In system (10'), the resonant receiver subsystem (14) may be the same as or substantially similar to the resonant receiver system described above and referenced by Figures 1-10. In the embodiment shown in Figure 12, the resonant receiver subsystem (14) may be implemented in, for example, a mobile phone or a digital "tablet," without limitation. The resonant receiver subsystem (14) is represented by a dashed line in Figure 13A for clarity. In one embodiment, the respective operating transmitter resonators (30A')-(30I') and the respective corresponding transmitter modules (20A')-(20I') may function in the same or substantially similar manner as the transmitter resonator (30) and transmitter module (20) described above and shown in Figures 1-10. Embodiments of the spatial layout of the multiplex transmitter subsystem (12') are shown in Figures 13A and 13B. Figure 13B shows a multiplex transmitter subsystem (12') with an orientation inverted from that of Figure 13A.

[0177] In exemplary embodiments of the system (10') shown in Figures 12, 13A, and 13B, the multiple transmitter subsystem (12') comprises nine pairs of transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') arranged in a square array and corresponding transmitter modules (20A') to (20I'). The transmitter modules (20A') to (20I') are obscured by a grounded baseplate (35') in Figure 13A, but are visible in Figure 13B. In more comprehensive embodiments, other numbers of pairs of resonators and transmitter modules may be utilized, and the resonator array does not have to be square or rectangular. For example, and without limitation, the resonator array may have a hexagonal configuration. In some embodiments, the array is preferably densely packed, within the constraint that it has a grounded shielding grid that separates and boundaries the transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I'). A grounded shielding grid (33') defines the array of transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') laterally. The grounded shielding grid (33') is positioned at a constant distance (37') from the periphery of each of the transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') to ensure consistent electric field behavior and associated capacitance between the transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') and the grounded shielding grid (33'). The term “shielding distance” is used herein to describe this distance between the resonators (30A') to (30I') and the grounded shielding grid (33').

[0178] In one embodiment, a grounded shielding grid (33') ensures that the electric fields of the transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') are completely spatially isolated and thus spatially independent. The transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') may have magnetic fields selected to be isolated from each other by spatial orientation. In another embodiment, the grounded shielding grid (33') may be formed of or coated with a highly conductive ferrite material to isolate the magnetic fields generated by the transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I').

[0179] As shown in Figures 13A and 13B, the transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') and their corresponding transmitter modules (20A') to (20I') are mounted substantially coincidentally to each other on opposite faces of a grounded base plate (35'), with each transmitter resonator (e.g., (30E')) being in close proximity to its corresponding transmitter module (20E'). In other embodiments, there may be no fixed spatial relationship between the transmitter resonators and their corresponding transmitter modules. The array of transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') shares a common transmitting surface defined by the collective upper surface of the transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') in Figure 13A. For aesthetic and protective purposes, the array of transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') may be covered with a dielectric plate (not shown in Figure 13A). The dielectric plate separates the receiver subsystem (14) from the transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I').

[0180] In Figures 12 and 13A, embodiments of the resonant receiver subsystem (14) are schematically shown as an overlapping subset of several transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I'). According to Figures 12 and 13A, the overlapping transmitter resonators are shown as (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H'). In Figure 13A, the resonant receiver subsystem (14) is shown as dashed rectangles on the mutually adjacent transmitter resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H'). A controller of any of the transmitter modules (20A') to (20I') can determine the presence or absence of a resonant receiver subsystem (14) adjacent to or overlapping with their corresponding transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I'), and based on these detections, the controller can turn on or off the power signals to their corresponding transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I').

[0181] The power amplifiers of transmitter modules (20A') to (20I') supply power signals to transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I'), thereby transmitting power to transmitter resonators (30I') to (30A'). If the controllers of transmitter modules (20A'), (20B'), (20C'), (20F'), and (20I') determine that there are no resonant receivers within their frequency ranges adjacent to transmitter resonators (30A'), (30B'), (30C'), (30F'), and (30I'), their controllers may turn off the power signals to transmitter resonators (30A'), (30B'), (30C'), (30F'), and (30I').

[0182] If the power amplifiers of transmitter modules (20A') to (20I') do not supply power signals to transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I'), and the controllers of transmitter resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') determine that there is a resonant receiver subsystem (14) that overlaps with or is adjacent to resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H'), then the transmittable power supplied to the transmitter resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') by transmitter modules (20D'), (20E'), (20G'), and (20H') is turned on. This configuration ensures that only transmitter resonators adjacent to resonant receiver subsystem (14) consume power and transmit it to resonant receiver subsystem (14).

[0183] The input impedance of specific transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') may be used to detect the presence or absence of a resonant receiver subsystem (14) adjacent to a specific transmitter resonator. The presence or absence of a resonant receiver subsystem (14) adjacent to a specific transmitter resonator causes the input impedance of the transmitter resonator to fluctuate. As described above with reference to Figure 6, the effect of a specific resonant receiver subsystem (14) is not only clear enough to detect the presence or absence of a receiver, but is also characteristic enough that the type of receiver can be identified by its effect on the input impedance of the transmitter resonator. The size of the receiver resonator has, among other things, an immeasurable effect on the input impedance of a specific transmitter resonator (30A') to (30I').

[0184] In one embodiment of the system (10'), the transmitter module (20E') shown in Figures 12 and 13B is a transmitter module associated with one of four transmitter resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') which are duplicated by the resonant receiver subsystem (14). The detailed structures of each of the transmitter modules (20A') to (20I') are provided in Figures 6 and 8. The process is initiated with the power amplifiers (26B) of the transmitter modules (20A') to (20I') not supplying power signals to the corresponding transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I').

[0185] Focusing on the transmitter module (20E'), its load detector (24A) is configured in this embodiment to measure the input impedance of the transmitter resonator (30E'). The load detector (24A) provides the controller (22) with the measured input impedance. The default input impedance measurement is stored in the controller (22) register and represents the input impedance of the transmitter resonator (30E') when there is no adjacent resonant receiver subsystem. With the arrangement of the adjacent resonant receiver subsystem (14) to the transmitter resonator (30E'), as shown in Figure 12, the load detector (24A) provides a new and different input impedance measurement, which is provided to the controller (22) by the load detector (24A). The controller (22) compares the new input impedance measurement, referred herein as “the impedance change of the first input transmitter resonator” or “the input impedance change of the primary transmitter resonator,” with the default impedance measurement stored in the register. Based on this first input impedance change, the controller (22) determines whether a receiver resonator, for example, the resonator of the resonant receiver subsystem (14), is located in close proximity to the transmitter resonator (30E'). To determine the absence or presence of a receiver resonator in close proximity to the transmitter resonator (30E'), the controller (22) may be pre-programmed with the minimum input impedance change that must be exceeded before the controller (22) considers a receiver resonator to be present.

[0186] If the controller (22) determines that a receiver resonator, for example, the resonator of the resonant receiver subsystem (14), is located in close proximity to the transmitter resonator (30E'), the controller (22) instructs the power amplifier to enter the "ON" state. As a result, power is supplied to the transmitter resonator (30E'), and then transmitted to the resonant receiver subsystem (14). If the controller (22) determines that a receiver resonator, for example, the resonator of the resonant receiver subsystem (14), is not located in close proximity to the transmitter resonator (30E'), the controller (22) instructs the power amplifier to enter the "OFF" state. As a result, power is not supplied to the transmitter resonator (30E'), and power is not transmitted to the resonant receiver subsystem (14). The same process is performed independently by all transmitter modules (20A') to (20I') for their corresponding transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I'). As a result, the power amplifiers of transmitter modules (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') that are overlapped by the resonant receiver subsystem (14) are turned on, while the power amplifiers of transmitter modules (30A'), (30B'), (30C'), (30F'), and (30I') that are not overlapped by the resonant receiver subsystem (14) are turned off.

[0187] It should be noted that receiver resonators of different sizes present dramatically different impedances at point (24A) to the load detector (24A) of the transmitter modulator (20). The difference in impedance measured when a given receiver resonator partially overlaps a particular transmitter resonator, compared to when the receiver resonator completely overlaps that transmitter resonator, is not as dramatically different as the difference in impedance due to the size of the receiver resonator. This allows the controller (22) of any transmitter modules (20A') to (20I') to distinguish between small and large receiver resonators adjacent to the corresponding transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I').

[0188] According to the embodiment, the setting of power signal frequencies and phases between the transmitter resonators (e.g., (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H')) that are overlapped by a resonant receiver subsystem, for example, a resonant receiver subsystem (14), is described herein. In order to transmit power most efficiently from the combination of transmitter resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') receiving power, the power signals of the resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') must have the same frequency and, furthermore, be in phase with respect to each other. Assuming that the frequencies of the power signals from the transmitter resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H'), as described above and with reference to Figures 1-10, are different within the allowable band, the requirements in this embodiment of Figures 12, 13A, and 13B are that the frequencies of the power signals from the transmitter resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') are adjusted to be identical, and then their phases are locked together so that the power signals from the transmitter resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') are perfectly synchronized or in phase.

[0189] In one embodiment, to ensure that the controllers (22) of the overlapping transmitter resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') all set their corresponding oscillators (26A) to the same frequency, the controllers (22) of the transmitter modules (20A') to (20I') are all provided with the same table of frequencies selected within a predetermined tolerance band, e.g., an ISM band. Within that particular ISM band, several individual frequencies are selected and included in the frequency table. Thus, the number of tabled frequencies within that ISM band is finite and limited, and the tabled frequencies are spaced far enough apart so that the various controllers (22) of the transmitter modules (20D'), (20E'), (20G'), and (20H') can determine the frequency of the power signal from the aforementioned first impedance difference. Despite small variations in their impedances, the controllers (22) of the transmitter modules (20D'), (20E'), (20G'), and (20H') all select the same individual frequencies from the allowable frequencies of the bandwidth for the power signals of their respective oscillators (26A) and power amplifiers (26B).

[0190] In one embodiment, the following procedure is employed to ensure that the resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') all have the same power signal frequency as well as the same phase, and is programmed into the software of each controller (22) of the transmitter modules (20A') to (20I'). Statistically, the first of the independent controllers (22) among the controllers of the transmitter modules (20D'), (20E'), (20G'), and (20H') first turns on its corresponding oscillator (26A) and power amplifier (26B) and supplies power to its transmitter resonator of the resonant receiver subsystem (14). Of the controllers for the transmitter modules (20D'), (20E'), (20G'), and (20H'), the second of the other independent controllers (22) measures the input impedance of its corresponding transmitter resonator and detects a small second change in its impedance due to the function of the first transmitter resonator using its corresponding load detector (24A). In fact, the second controller (22) observes the reflection of the impedance of the first transmitter resonator through the interaction between the resonant receiver subsystem (14) and the first transmitter resonator. Based on the second change in impedance, the second controller (22) is programmed to conclude that the other controller should first turn on its oscillator (26A) and power amplifier (26B). Having reached this conclusion, the second controller (22) then turns on its oscillator (26A) and power amplifier (26B) and varies the phase of the power signal while measuring the power transmitted by its corresponding transmitter resonator using its transmitter power sensor (24B). The second controller (22) then varies the phase of its oscillator to find the phase at which maximum power transmission occurs and sets the oscillator phase to that value. The oscillator phase determined in this manner ensures that the phase of the power signal transmitted by the second transmitter resonator is equivalent to the phase of the power signal transmitted to the resonant receiver subsystem (14) by the first transmitter resonator. In one embodiment, the setting of the oscillator phase is based on substantially maximizing power transmission rather than making the phases of the power signals perfectly equal.

[0191] In another embodiment, based on the fact that the transmitter resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') are overlapped by the resonant receiver subsystem (14), proximity detection of the resonant receiver subsystem (14) is based on the test signal power consumed by the transmitter resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H'). In this embodiment, a low amplitude power signal is initially maintained by oscillators and power amplifiers corresponding to all of the transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I'). Subsequently, the controllers (22) of all transmitter modules (20A') to (20I') sense the power consumed by their corresponding transmitter resonators (30) using their corresponding transmitter power sensors (24B). Using their corresponding transmitter power sensors (24B), the controllers (22) of the transmitter modules (20D'), (20E'), (20G'), and (20H') sense that power is being consumed through their corresponding transmitter resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H'). Based on the detection of consumed test signal power, the controllers (22) of the transmitter modules (20D'), (20E'), (20G'), and (20H') turn on the full power of their corresponding power amplifiers (26B). The term “consumption of first test signal power” is used herein to describe this power consumed from the test signal through the transmitter resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H'). The test power signals of the power amplifiers (26B) of the transmitter modules (30A'), (30B'), (30C'), (30F'), and (30I'), which are not overlapped by the resonant receiver subsystem (14), may be turned off after an appropriate test period.

[0192] Similar to the impedance-based embodiments described above, the controller (22) of the transmitter modules (20D'), (20E'), (20G'), and (20H') may require threshold power consumption to assume that the resonant receiver subsystem (14) is located in close proximity to its corresponding transmitter resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H').

[0193] In one embodiment, to ensure that all controllers (22) of the overlapping transmitter resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') set their corresponding oscillators (26A) to the same frequency, all controllers (22) of the transmitter modules (20A') to (20I') are provided with the same table of frequencies selected within a predetermined allowable bandwidth, e.g., the ISM band. Within that particular ISM band, several individual frequencies are selected and included in the frequency table. Thus, the number of tablested frequencies within that ISM band is finite and limited, and the tablested frequencies are spaced widely enough so that the various controllers (22) of the transmitter modules (20D'), (20E'), (20G'), and (20H') can determine the power signal frequency from the first test signal power consumption described above. Despite small fluctuations in their power consumption values, the controllers (22) of the transmitter modules (20D'), (20E'), (20G'), and (20H') all select the same individual frequencies from the bandwidth-permissible range for the power signals of their respective oscillators (26A) and power amplifiers (26B).

[0194] In one embodiment, the following procedure is employed and programmed into the software of each controller (22) of the transmitter modules (20A') to (20I') to ensure that the resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') all have the same power signal frequency as well as the same phase. Statistically, the first of the independent controllers (22) among the controllers of the transmitter modules (20D'), (20E'), (20G'), and (20H') first turns on its corresponding oscillator (26A) and power amplifier (26B) and supplies power to the resonant receiver subsystem (14) via its transmitter resonator. Of the controllers for the transmitter modules (20D'), (20E'), (20G'), and (20H'), the second of the other independent controllers (22) measures the power consumption of its corresponding transmitter resonator and, by its corresponding transmitter power sensor (24B), detects a small second change in its power consumption attributable to the function of the first transmitter resonator. In fact, the second controller (22) observes the reflection of the impedance of the first transmitter resonator through the interaction between the resonant receiver subsystem (14) and the first transmitter resonator. Based on the second change in power consumption, the second controller (22) is programmed to conclude that the other controller initially turned on its oscillator (26A) and power amplifier (26B). Having reached this conclusion, the second controller (22) then turns on its oscillator (26A) and power amplifier (26B) and uses its transmitter power sensor (24B) to measure the power transmitted by its corresponding transmitter resonator while varying the phase of the power signal. The second controller (22) then searches for the phase at which maximum power transmission occurs and sets the oscillator to that phase. The oscillator phase set in this manner ensures that the phase of the power signal transmitted to the resonant receiver subsystem (14) by the second transmitter resonator is equivalent to the phase of the power signal transmitted to the resonant receiver subsystem (14) by the first transmitter resonator.In this embodiment, the oscillator phase setting is based on substantially maximizing power transmission rather than making the phases of the power signals perfectly equal.

[0195] In one embodiment, two different resonant receiver subsystems are located adjacent to a multiplex transmitter subsystem (12'), and the transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') are different or in combination. When overlapping, there is no prior reason, nor a requirement, that two different transmitter resonators, or two different groups of transmitter resonators overlapped by two resonant receiver systems, should operate at the same frequency or phase. The grounded shielding grid (33') ensures this multi-way independence by isolating all individual transmitter resonators (30A')~(30I') from one another. However, transmitter resonators overlapped by one particular resonant receiver subsystem require their corresponding power signal amplifiers to be actively synchronized by their controllers, as described above. This can result in two different transmitter resonators, or two different groups of resonators, operating at two specific different locked-in frequencies in the bandwidth, with all signals in a particular group being in phase with each other.

[0196] In the preceding section, it is explained how two transmitter resonators are programmed to behave in order to ensure that they have power signals in phase with each other, thereby ensuring maximum power transmission when transmitting power to the same receiver resonator. A different situation arises when two adjacent transmitter resonators, for example (30A') and (30B') in Figure 14, are transmitting to two substantially similar corresponding receiver subsystems (14A) and (14B). Both transmitter resonators (30A') and (30B') have fringing fields, and their field lines extend, for example, from transmitter resonator (30A') to receiver subsystem (14B') and from transmitter resonator (30B') to receiver subsystem (14A). In general, the system (10') does not have any specific physical structure to prevent, for example, the electric field of the transmitter resonator (30A') from interacting with the receiver resonator of the receiver subsystem (14B).

[0197] In one embodiment, when both transmitter resonators (30A') and (30B') work for the same large receiver resonator that overlaps with both transmitter resonators (30A') and (30B') (as in Figure 13A), the fringe field is essentially not a problem because both transmitter resonators (30A') and (30B') carry out power signals of the same frequency and in the same phase. In the case of the situation shown in Figure 14, the requirement is to ensure that power is not parasitically ingested from the transmitter resonator (30A') by the fringe field of a given transmitter resonator (e.g., (30A')) interacting with a receiver subsystem (e.g., (14B) which is intended to accept power from an adjacent transmitter resonator (30B')). One way to achieve this goal is to drive the two adjacent transmitter resonators (30A') and (30B') 180° out of phase with respect to each other, thereby causing the overlapping fringe fields from the transmitter resonators (30A') and (30B') to cancel each other out to a large extent.

[0198] When the power signals from transmitter resonators (30A') and (30B') are not out of phase by 180°, one of the transmitter resonators (30A') and (30B') experiences the other as a parasite, so the respective controllers (22) of those transmitter resonators (30A') and (30B') can increment the phase of the signals from their respective corresponding oscillators while measuring the power transmitted by the corresponding transmitter resonators (30A') and (30B') using the corresponding transmitter power sensor (24B). The controller (22) can then find the phase of the tuned oscillator that provides the maximum power transmitted through the corresponding transmitter resonators (30A') and (30B'), and then set the phase of the oscillator to its corresponding phase.

[0199] As described above, the frequency and phase configuration for each resonant receiver system ensures that both resonant receiver systems receive the maximum transmitted power, whether they are similar or different in size. In the overall embodiment, there may be many transmitter resonators, and several different resonant receiver subsystems can receive power, each resonant receiver subsystem receiving power from its own corresponding separate group of transmitter resonators at frequencies and phases selected by controllers corresponding to the transmitter resonators in the group. Adjacent transmitter resonators transmitting power to different receiver subsystems may operate out of phase by 180° as a result of maximizing the power transmission of each adjacent transmitter resonator. The process of maximizing power transmission involves adjusting the phase of the oscillators. Because the impedances of various transmitter modules are complex, involving slight variations in resistance, inductance, and capacitance, even if the power signals of the transmitter resonators are actually equal (or exactly 180° different), the phase angles of different oscillators at the point of maximum power transmission may not be exactly equal (or exactly 180° different).

[0200] As long as the system (10') includes one circuit with an air gap between the primary and secondary sides, any power transmission measured or maximized in the transmitter resonator at point (24E) in Figure 6 based on measurements by the transmitter power sensor (24B) is better measured or maximized in the secondary circuit at point (44C) in Figure 7 based on measurements by the receiver power sensor (44A). The measured value may be provided by the transmitter power sensor (24B) to the controller (42) of the receiver module (40), which then transmits the measured value to the controller (22) of the transmitter module (20) by one of the means described above.

[0201] The concept of a near-field resonant wireless power transmission system for multiple transmitters has been described above with reference to a system (10') configured to perform capacitive and inductive power transmission simultaneously according to a transmission mode ratio adjustable by a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency. In a more overall embodiment, the near-field resonant wireless power transmission system for multiple transmitters does not necessarily have to be a two-mode system, but may be purely a capacitive transmission system or purely an inductive power transmission system.

[0202] In a further embodiment shown in the flowchart of Figure 15, a wireless near-field method

[1100] for transmitting power from a multiple transmitter subsystem (12') to a single resonant receiver subsystem (14) at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency is provided by a step

[1110] of providing a multiple transmitter subsystem (12') comprising a plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I'), each of which is driven by a corresponding transmitter module (20A') to (20I'), each transmitter module (20A') to (20I') being independently set to one of a plurality of pre-set power signal oscillation frequencies in a pre-set frequency band, and the transmitter resonance The process includes steps

[1110] of all transmitters (30A') to (30I') having a common transmitting surface; placing a resonant receiver subsystem (14) adjacent to the common transmitting surface, the subsystem having a single receiver resonator (50) that overlaps with two or more transmitter resonators ((30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and 30H) (Figure 13A); measuring the input impedance of each of the transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') (1130); and setting the power signals to each of the plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') to either an off state or an on state based on the corresponding measured resonator input impedance (1140).

[0203] Method

[1100] may further include the step

[1150] of selecting the power signal oscillation frequency for the corresponding transmitter resonator (resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') in Figure 13A) from a set of pre-set power signal oscillation frequencies, based on the measured input impedance of each activated transmitter resonator (resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') in Figure 13A).

[0204] Method

[1100] may further include the step

[1160] of setting the power signal of each activated transmitter resonator ((30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') in Figure 13A) to the corresponding selected frequency.

[0205] Method

[1100] may further include step

[1170] of adjusting the phase of the power signals applied to the respective transmitter resonators (resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H) in Figure 13A) to a phase that substantially maximizes power transmission through the transmitter resonators ((30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') in Figure 13A).

[0206] In a further embodiment shown in the flowchart of Figure 16, a wireless near-field method

[1200] for transmitting power from a multiple transmitter subsystem (12') to a single resonant receiver subsystem (14) at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency is provided by

[1210] a multiple transmitter subsystem (12') comprising a plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I'), each of which is driven by a corresponding transmitter module (20A') to (20I'), each transmitter module (20A') to (20I') being independently set to one of a plurality of pre-set power signal oscillation frequencies in a pre-set frequency band, and the transmitter resonator (3 The process includes:

[1210] all of (30A') to (30I') having a common transmitting surface;

[1220] arranging a resonant receiver subsystem (14) having a single receiver resonator (50) that overlaps with two or more transmitter resonators ((30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H') in Figure 13A) in close proximity to the common transmitting surface;

[1230] measuring the power consumed by each of the transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') from a test signal; and

[1140] setting the power signals to each of the plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') to one of the off and on states based on the corresponding measured resonator test power consumption.

[0207] Method

[1200] may further include the step

[1250] of selecting the power signal oscillation frequency of the corresponding transmitter resonator (resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H) in Figure 13A) from a set of pre-set power signal oscillation frequencies based on the measured test power consumed by each of the activated transmitter resonators (resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H) in Figure 13A).

[0208] Method

[1200] may further include the step

[1260] of setting the power signal of each activated transmitter resonator ((30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H) in Figure 13A) to the corresponding selected frequency.

[0209] Method

[1200] may further include step

[1270] of adjusting the phase of the power signals applied to the respective transmitter resonators (resonators (30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H) in Figure 13A) to a phase that substantially maximizes power transmission through the transmitter resonators ((30D'), (30E'), (30G'), and (30H) in Figure 13A).

[0210] In a further embodiment shown in the flowchart of Figure 17, a wireless near-field method

[1300] for transmitting power at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency from a multiple transmitter subsystem (12') to two or more receiver subsystems (14A), (14B) (in Figure 14) is a step

[1310] of providing a multiple transmitter subsystem (12') comprising a plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') (in Figure 14), each of which is driven by a transmitter module (20A') to (20I') (see Figure 13B), each transmitter module (20A') to (20I') independently of one of a plurality of pre-set power signal oscillation frequencies in a pre-set frequency band. The configuration can be set such that all transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') have a common transmitting surface, and the steps include:

[1310] ; arranging two or more resonant receiver subsystems (14A), (14B) adjacent to the common transmitting surface, each containing a single receiver resonator that overlaps with one or more transmitter resonators (transmitter resonators (30A'), (30B') in Figure 14);

[1320] ; measuring the input impedance of each of the transmitter resonators (30A'), (30B'),

[1330] ; and setting the power signals to each of the plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') to one of the off and on states based on the corresponding measured resonator input impedance,

[1340] .

[0211] Method

[1300] may further include the step

[1350] of selecting the power signal oscillation frequency for the corresponding transmitter resonators (30A', (30B')) from a set of preset power signal oscillation frequencies based on the measured input impedance of each activated transmitter resonator (resonators (30A'), (30B') in Figure 14).

[0212] Method

[1300] may further include the step

[1360] of setting the power signals of each activated transmitter resonator (30A'), (30B') to the corresponding selected frequency.

[0213] Method

[1300] may further include step

[1370] of adjusting the phase of the power signals applied to the corresponding transmitter resonators (30A') and (30B') to a phase that substantially maximizes power transmission through the transmitter resonators (30A') and (30B') (in Figure 14).

[0214] In a further embodiment shown in the flowchart of Figure 18, a wireless near-field method

[1400] for transmitting power at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency from a multiple transmitter subsystem (12') to two or more receiver subsystems (14A), (14B) (in Figure 14) is provided

[1410] a multiple transmitter subsystem (12') comprising a plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') (in Figure 14), each of which is driven by a corresponding transmitter module (20A') to (20I') (see Figure 13B), each transmitter module (20A') to (20I') independently configured to one of a plurality of pre-configured power signal oscillation frequencies in a pre-configured frequency band. The process includes:

[1410] determining that all transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') have a common transmitting surface;

[1420] arranging two or more resonant receiver subsystems (14A), (14B) adjacent to the common transmitting surface, each containing a single receiver resonator that overlaps with one or more transmitter resonators (transmitter resonators (30A'), (30B') in Figure 13);

[1430] measuring the power consumed by each of the transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') from a test signal; and

[1440] setting the power signals to each of the plurality of mutually independent transmitter resonators (30A') to (30I') to one of the off and on states based on the corresponding measured resonator test power consumption.

[0215] Method

[1400] may further include the step

[1450] of selecting the power signal oscillation frequency of the corresponding transmitter resonators (30A', (30B')) from a set of preset power signal oscillation frequencies based on the measured input impedance of each activated transmitter resonator (resonators (30A'), (30B') in Figure 14).

[0216] Method

[1400] may further include the step

[1460] of setting the power signals of each activated transmitter resonator (30A'), (30B') to the corresponding selected frequency.

[0217] Method

[1400] may further include step

[1470] of adjusting the phase of the power signals applied to the corresponding transmitter resonators (30A') and (30B') to a phase that substantially maximizes power transmission through the transmitter resonators (30A') and (30B') (in Figure 14).

[0218] Referencing Figures 20A and 20B, 21A and 21B, and 22A and 22B, and in further embodiments described based on the systems of Figures 1 to 10 and Figures 12 to 14, a near-field resonant wireless power transmission system (10") for wirelessly transmitting power from a solar cell (420) to a power load (70") is shown schematicly in Figure 19A. An accented numbering scheme is used for labeling in Figure 19A, which makes the similarity to Figures 13A and 13B clear, and thereby makes the similarity to Figures 6 and 7 clear. This numbering scheme ensures that DC power is supplied from the solar cell (420) to the transmitter module (20") via a power regulating unit (PCU) (430). Beyond converting the DC voltage and DC current to levels that can be further transmitted by the power amplifier (26B"), the PCU (430) also provides appropriately regulated levels of voltage and current to drive the remaining system components, including small signaling electronic components, in the transmitter module (20"). The PCU (430) represents an adaptively changing load on the solar cell (420) to match the varying power supplied by the solar cell (420) and the varying output impedance presented to the PCU (430) by the solar cell (420). This allows the PCU (430) to absorb power from the solar cell (420) at the maximum possible rate and temperature, regardless of fluctuations in its power from the solar cell (420).

[0219] The oscillator ((26A)) may be used to modulate the power amplifier (26B) at a frequency suitable for wireless power transmission, as already described above. The power amplifier (26B) may have the same design as the amplifier (26B) shown in Figure 8, and power from the PCU (430) is supplied as a DC voltage (127E) instead of VDD. In an alternative embodiment, the power amplifier (26B) may be appropriately equipped with a circuit that maintains oscillation by itself, as is well known in the field of wireless systems, thereby eliminating the oscillator (26A)).

[0220] Power may be transmitted to the transmitter resonator (30") via a transmit tuning network (28"), which is an integration of the signal conditioning and tuning components (26C, 26D, 26E, and 26F) of Figure 6, in Figure 19A. The transmitter resonator (30") may have a surface area that may be at least one major fraction of the range of the dynamic solar radiation receiving surface of the solar cell (420). All of these components of the transmitter module (20") are under the control of the controller (22), just as the corresponding components of the transmitter module (20) in Figure 6 are under the control of the controller (22). For clarity, not all components of the transmitter module (20") are shown in Figure 19A. Sensors and detectors (24A, 24B, 24C, and 24D in Figure 6) may also be present in the transmitter module (20") in an equivalent form and connected to the controller (22), and may perform the same roles as in Figure 6.

[0221] Power may be wirelessly transmitted from the transmitter module (20") to the receiver module (40") via the transmitter resonator (30") and the receiver resonator (50"). From the receiver module (40"), power may be transmitted to a DC load (70). The transmission of power between the transmitter resonator (30") and the receiver resonator (50") may be by near-field wireless transmission, as described in relation to Figures 6 to 10. As shown in Figure 20, the near-field wireless power transmission is not limited to two methods and may be purely capacitive or purely inductive.

[0222] The receiver module (40") may have the same components as the receiver (40) in Figure 7. For clarity, a reduced set of those components is shown in Figure 19A. The sensor (44A) and detector (44B) in Figure 7 may be present, although they are not shown in equivalent form in Figure 19A. The receiver tuning network (48") in Figure 19A may be an integration of a compensation network (46A), a matching network (46B), a rectifier (46D), and a filter (46C). Power may be transmitted from the receiver tuning network (48") to load management (46E), both of which may be under the control of the receiver controller (42).

[0223] Referring to Figure 19A and based on the systems in Figures 1 to 10, this exemplary embodiment presents a near-field resonant wireless power transmission system 10" for wirelessly transmitting power from a power source, a solar cell (420), to a power load (70”). The labels in Figure 19A use a double-accented numbering system to clearly indicate similarities with Figures 6 and 7. This numbering system ensures that DC power is supplied from the solar cell (420) to the transmitting module (20") via a power control unit (PCU) (430). The PCU (430) converts the DC voltage and DC current to levels suitable for conversion to radio frequency signals for further transmission by a power amplifier (26B"), and also provides appropriately tuned levels of voltage and current to drive the rest of the system components, including small-signal electronic components within the transmitting module (20"), for example. The PCU (430) represents an adaptively fluctuating load relative to the solar cell (420) to accommodate the variable power supplied by the solar cell (420) and the variable output impedance presented to the PCU (430) by the solar cell (400). This allows the PCU (430) to absorb the power from the solar cell (420) at the maximum possible rate at any time and temperature, despite fluctuations in its power from the solar cell (420).

[0224] The oscillator (26A) may be used to modulate the power amplifier (26B) at a frequency suitable for wireless power transmission, as already described above. The power amplifier (26B) may have the same design as the amplifier (26B) shown in Figure 8, and power from the PCU (430) is supplied as a DC voltage (127E) instead of VDD. In an alternative embodiment, the power amplifier (26B) may be appropriately equipped with a circuit that maintains oscillation by itself, as is well known in the field of wireless systems, thereby eliminating the oscillator (26A).

[0225] Power may be transmitted to the transmitter resonator (30") via a transmit tuning network (28"), which is an integration of the signal conditioning and tuning components (26C, 26D, 26E, and 26F) of Figure 6, in Figure 19A. The transmitter resonator (30") may have a surface area that may be at least one major fraction of the range of the dynamic solar radiation receiving surface of the solar cell (420). All of these components of the transmitter module (20") are under the control of the controller (22), just as the corresponding components of the transmitter module (20) in Figure 6 are under the control of the controller (22). For clarity, not all components of the transmitter module (20") are shown in Figure 19A. Sensors and detectors (24A, 24B, 24C, and 24D in Figure 6) may, in equivalent forms, be present in the transmitter module (20") and connected to the controller (22), and may perform the same roles already described in relation to Figure 6.

[0226] Power may be wirelessly transmitted from the transmitter module (20") to the receiver module (40") via the transmitter resonator (30") and the receiver resonator (50"). From the receiver module (40"), power may be transmitted to a DC load (70). The transmission of power between the transmitter resonator (30") and the receiver resonator (50") may be by near-field wireless transmission, as described in relation to Figures 6 to 10. As shown in Figure 19A, the near-field wireless power transmission is not limited to two methods and may be purely capacitive or purely inductive.

[0227] The receiver module (40") may have the same components as the receiver (40) in Figure 7. For clarity, a reduced set of those components is shown in Figure 19A. The sensor (44A) and detector (44B) in Figure 7 may be present, although they are not shown in equivalent form in Figure 19A. The receiver tuning network (48") in Figure 19A may be an integration of a compensation network (46A), a matching network (46B), a rectifier (46D), and a filter (46C). Power may be transmitted from the receiver tuning network (48") to load management (46E), both of which may be under the control of the receiver controller (42).

[0228] With respect to the rectifier (46D), which is shown in detail in Figure 7, the input impedance of this device depends directly on the load experienced by the output of the device.

[0229] During operation, the near-field resonant wireless power transmission system (10") may function similarly to the near-field resonant wireless power transmission system (10) in Figures 1 and 6-10, except that the applied voltage VDD of each power amplifier (26B") is replaced by a power signal from a power control unit (PCU) (430), which in this embodiment receives its power from an associated power source, which is a solar cell (420).

[0230] In another embodiment, the power adjustment unit (430) may be omitted from the system shown in Figure 19A, and the power transfer system (10") may instead be configured or operated to also function as a power adjustment system. This can be achieved, for example, by configuring a controller (22") in software, for example, but not limited to, to adjust the input DC equivalent resistance of the power amplifier (26B) based on the power level measured by the power sensor (24B) in Figure 6. The term “input DC equivalent resistance” is used to represent the ratio of DC voltage to DC current at the DC terminal of the power amplifier (26B). The controller (22") will make adjustments based on the power measurements, but it is expected that the maximum power point of the transmitted power will be achieved when the input impedance of the power amplifier (26B) matches the output impedance of the solar cell (420). In this embodiment, the system (10") functions as what is known in industry as a “maximum power point tracker,” ensuring that power is always transmitted at a rate appropriate for the power-consuming load, rather than the rate that would be obtained if the power supply were not regulated. In another embodiment, the controller (22") may be configured to measure the output impedance of a power source, which in this embodiment is a solar cell (420), and then adjust the input impedance of the power amplifier (26B) based on the measured output impedance of the solar cell (420).

[0231] In addition to adjusting the input impedance of the power amplifier (26B"), the controller (22") may adjust one or more of the settings of the transmitter tuning network (28") and the oscillator (26A) frequency. Furthermore, the transmitter controller (22") may make the adjustments already described above based on measurements from the load detector (24A), which is shown in Figure 6, illustrating the circuitry of the transmitter modules (20 and 20") in more detail. The load detector (24A) senses the effect of the load (70") at point (24E) in Figure 6.

[0232] The receiver controller (42") may adjust one or more of the settings of the receiver tuning network (48") and the load management system (46E) to improve the efficiency of power transmission, based on measurements from the receiver power sensor (44A) and the load detector (44B) (both shown in Figure 7).

[0233] When considering the power regulation function of the system (10"), it will be understood that there is no prior reason why the system's power transmission function must be limited to near-field wireless transmission across an air gap, as shown in Figure 19A. Therefore, in another embodiment, a power regulation unit (410) is shown in Figure 19B, based on the elements of the system (10") in Figure 19A. The transmitter tuning network (28") is in direct electrical communication with the receiver tuning network (48") via a suitable non-air-gap connection (60). This communication is via radio frequency power signals, which constitute the power within and transmitted by the system. Electronic components with appropriate reactance may be employed in a well-known configuration to isolate any DC voltage and current levels in the transmitter module (20") from such levels in the receiver module (40). Transmitter resonators (30") and receiver resonators (50") are absent in this embodiment and are unnecessary due to the direct communication connection between the transmitter tuning network (28") and the receiver tuning network (48).

[0234] The function of the power transmission systems in Figures 19A and 19B as power regulation systems can be better understood by considering Figure 19B in particular, where the concept of power regulation is simplified by the absence of the transmitter resonator (30") and receiver resonator (50"), although these also apply when these resonators are present (as in Figure 19A). The systems in Figures 19A and 19B have four independent control parameters that can be adjusted in operation to regulate the power transmitted to the receiving module (40") and thereby transmitted to the load (70"). Typical commercial power regulation units are commonly known as "boost converters" because they raise their output voltage above that of the source voltage. These devices have only two control parameters.

[0235] A first independent control parameter that can be adjusted during operation to adjust the power transmitted to the receiver module (40") and thereby to the load (70") is the oscillation frequency of the power amplifier (26B"), which is adjustable by the controller (22A) of the oscillator (26A).

[0236] A second independent control parameter that can be adjusted during operation to regulate the power transmitted to the receiving module (40") and thereby to the load (70") is the output load of the rectifier (46D) of the receiving module (40). This output load, in turn, directly determines the input impedance of the rectifier (46D), thereby directly determining the input impedance of the receiver module (40"), which is, in turn, the load experienced by the transmitter module (20") and directly determines the input DC equivalent resistance of the power amplifier (26B). The operation of the output load of the rectifier (46D) is performed under the control of the receiver controller (42") via the load management system (46E) of the receiver module (40") (see Figure 19A). This second independent control parameter is a characteristic of the receiver module, but essentially controls the load experienced by the power supply. The control point for manipulating this parameter is the load management system (46E) of the receiver module (40).

[0237] Third and fourth independent control parameters, transmitted to the receiving module (40") and thereby to the load (70"), which can be adjusted during operation to regulate power, are the characteristics of the rectifier (46D) (see Figure 7) and the characteristics of the power amplifier (26B) (Figure 19A) of the receiver module (40"), which are similar in nature but completely independent of each other. Both the rectifier (46D) and the power amplifier (26B) are multi-terminal amplification devices and rely on the modulation of the current passing between two terminals through the multi-terminal device by a voltage signal applied to the third terminal of each device. The simplest multi-terminal amplification device that can be used in each of the rectifier (46D) and power amplifier (26B) is a transistor. This allows for a phase difference to exist between the voltage signal and the current signal generated by or within the device. That voltage-current phase difference is adjustable via the applied voltage. The rectifier (46D) may be an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier whose voltage-current phase difference can be adjusted via the receiver controller (42”). In the case of the power amplifier (26B”), the voltage-current phase difference may be adjusted via the transmitter controller (22”). The rectifier (46D) may typically be a differential self-synchronizing radio frequency rectifier. In particular, the rectifier (46D) may be a differential class F self-synchronizing radio frequency rectifier.

[0238] Examples in Figures 19A and 19B are based on the transmission of power from a solar cell, and by extension from a solar cell array, where the power delivered by the solar cell (420) can fluctuate rapidly to zero depending on sunlight. Many other power sources suffer from output fluctuations in terms of both power and generated voltage. These include power generation turbines, wind turbines, and various batteries and accumulators. Wind turbines have large fluctuations in power output, and various batteries can have wide power consumption curves. Given the efficiency of power transmission in the systems, either of these systems (10") and (410) may be configured to receive power from a commercially available battery having, for example, a slow open-circuit voltage decay curve, but not limited to these. The load management system (46E") may be configured to change the input DC equivalent resistance of the power amplifier (26B") as already described above, and the controllers (22") and (42") may be configured to supply the requested voltage value to the load (70") until the requested voltage can no longer be maintained by the transmitted power and the ability of the system (10") and its parameters to be adjusted.

[0239] Figure 19A and its accompanying caption illustrate near-field wireless transmission from a single solar cell (420) to a single load (70"), typically a battery. In practical implementations of larger solar power systems, battery arrays are typically employed, and a similar power transmission scheme can be adopted, as described with reference to Figures 12, 13A, and 13B, with multiple transmitter subsystems and typically a single receiver subsystem. This situation is illustrated in Figures 20A and 20B, which are exploded front and rear views of a solar panel (400), respectively, where the solar panel is The system has a transparent solar cover (440) with one near-field wireless power transmission subsystem per solar cell (420), thereby comprising, as an example, 60 near-field wireless power transmission subsystems (16), each transmission subsystem (16) comprising a transmitter resonator (30”), a transmitter module (20”), and a power regulating unit (430), as described with reference to Figure 19A. To avoid confusion, the transmission subsystems (16) are not labeled in Figure 19A, but are shown and labeled in Figures 20B, 21B, and 22B, as further described below.

[0240] In one embodiment, battery-level power management is possible by connecting each individual solar cell of a solar panel, which is composed of multiple solar cells, to a power transmission and management system. By managing power at the individual cell level, power collection to each cell can be optimized, and as a result, the efficiency of the entire solar panel system can be improved. In such embodiments, the impact of individual cell failures or poor connections between cells is reduced. Power collection at the individual cell level allows for maximum power to be obtained even under less-than-ideal conditions such as rain or shade, or even when part of the solar panel is covered with debris.

[0241] To avoid confusion, only one near-field wireless power transmission subsystem (16) is labeled in Figure 20B. In Figures 20A and 20B, the transmitter resonator (30”) of each transmitting subsystem (16) may be located on the back of its corresponding solar cell (420). In Figure 20A, viewed from the front of the panel, the flat area of ​​the solar cell represents the activated solar radiation receiving and energy conversion semiconductor device itself and is labeled accordingly (420), while in Figure 20B, viewed from the back, the flat area of ​​the device represents the transmitter resonator and is labeled accordingly (30”). The transmitter resonator (30”) may have a surface area that can be at least one major fraction of the range of the dynamic solar radiation receiving surface of the solar cell (420). The transmitting module (20”) and power regulating unit (430) of each near-field wireless power transmission subsystem (16) are integrated together in Figure 20B and labeled (450). To avoid confusion, the integrated component (450) is not labeled in Figure 19A, but is shown and labeled as a unit in Figures 20B, 21B, and 22B, as further described below. A single receiver resonator (50") may be fitted into the frame (460) of the solar panel (400). A single receiver module (40") may be mounted directly to the back of the receiver resonator (50).

[0242] During operation, the near-field resonant wireless power transmission system (10") can function similarly to the near-field resonant wireless power transmission system (10) in Figures 12, 13A, and 13B, except that the voltage VDD applied to each of the power amplifiers (26B") is replaced by a power signal from a power control unit (PCU) (430), which receives its power from the associated solar cell (420).

[0243] In another embodiment of the system in Figures 20A and 20B, the frame (460) may be configured to be a suitable receiver resonator for receiving power from all transmitter resonators (30"), and the receiver module (40") may be placed on the frame (460). In this embodiment, the plate in the frame may not be a resonator but a simple flat sheet of non-conductive material.

[0244] In another embodiment, the solar panel (400'), shown in the front and rear views in Figures 21A and 21B respectively, causes each near-field wireless power transmission subsystem to transmit power to one near-field wireless power receiving subsystem. The frame (460I) is shown as being filled with an opaque plate (470), although the plate (470) may not be part of either the near-field electrical or magnetic circuit. For clarity, the same component numbering is used on the transmitting side, as in Figures 20A and 20B. On the receiving side, the numbering is used as in Figure 19A. Again, to avoid confusion, only one receiving device is shown.

[0245] During operation, the solar panel configuration (400') in Figures 21A and 21B has individual transmitter modules (20") connected by hardwires (not shown) so that they can be in phase, thereby minimizing power loss during transmission. In other embodiments, the transmitter modules (20") may be independent and function as described in Figures 14, 17, and 18.

[0246] In yet another embodiment, for example, an array of 25 solar cells is shown, as shown in the front and rear views in Figures 22A and 22B, respectively, as a solar panel array (400”), each arranged in five rows of five cells (420). Each solar cell (420) has a unit (450) at its rear end, which includes a transmitter resonator (30”) and its corresponding transmitter module (20”) and power regulating unit (430). At the bottom and top of the array, and between each two rows of solar cells, there are receiver resonators (50”) arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the solar cells (420), and each receiver resonator (50”) is in wired telecommunication with its corresponding receiver module (40”). As with the embodiments of the solar panels to date, one example of each component is labeled. Similar to the embodiments shown in Figures 20A and 20B, and Figures 21A and 21B, the solar panel array (400”) may also have a frame (460) in some embodiments. For clarity, the frame (460) is not shown in Figures 22A and 22B.

[0247] During operation, the transmitter resonator (30") of a solar cell (420) in a particular row of the system (400") transmits power to both the receiver resonators (50") above and below it. However, in this embodiment, there is a further mechanism of various nearest neighbor receiver resonators (50") that are resonantly coupled and share the collected power. Thus, the power collected by all receiver resonators (50") of the array can be tapped through any one or more of the various receiver modules (40). In particular, the power collected by all receiver modules (40") may, for example, be tapped through only the bottom receiver module (40). Any one of the receiver modules (40) on any resonator (50) can function as a receiver module that collects power from a row of solar cells (420), but can also function as a transmitter module that transmits the collected power to another nearby resonator (50) via its associated resonator (50). This operation may be repeated below the array to transmit power to the bottom receiver module (40).

[0248] In another embodiment of the system in Figures 22A and 22B, a frame similar to the frame (460) in Figures 20A and 20B, surrounding the planar perimeter of the solar cell array in Figures 22A and 22B, may be a receiver resonator supporting a receiving module (40") and may receive power from various resonators (50"). In this way, the total power generated by all solar cells (420) in the array is received by the resonator frame (460) and may be tapped through the receiver module (40") for further electrical transmission.

[0249] Power collection at the individual solar cell level may be achieved via wired connections. However, the use of wireless transmission systems in solar panels allows for a reduction in wiring and therefore a reduction in manufacturing costs.

[0250] In a further embodiment described with reference to the flowchart in Figure 23, a method is provided for transmitting power from a photocell (420) to a power load (70")

[1500] , the method comprising: a step of converting power from the photocell (420) to an oscillating power signal having an oscillating frequency in a transmitting module (20")

[1510] ; a step of transmitting the power to a transmitter resonator (30") configured to be in wired telecommunication with the transmitting module (20") and to resonate at the oscillating frequency

[1520] ; and a method configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency and to utilize at least capacitive coupling and magnetic induction. The method includes the steps of: receiving power in a receiver resonator (50") arranged to receive power from the transmitter resonator (30") via one of them

[1530] ; receiving the power in a receiver module (40") which is in wired telecommunications with the receiver resonator (50")

[1540] ; and converting the received power into DC form via wired telecommunications with the electrical load (70")

[1550] . The method may further include the step of converting the voltage and current of the power from the photocell (420) to a voltage and current suitable for the transmitter module (20") before converting the power into an oscillating power signal.

[0251] Further embodiments of the methods described with reference to Figure 19A and the flowchart in Figure 24 provide a method

[1600] for transmitting power from an array (400) of photocells (420) to a power load (70"), the method comprising the steps of:

[1610] converting power from each photocell of the array (400) to an oscillating power signal having an oscillating frequency in each of a first plurality of corresponding transmitting modules (20"); and transmitting the power from each of the transmitting modules (20") to a corresponding transmitter resonator (70") from a second plurality of transmitter resonators (30") A method comprising: a step of configuring each resonator to resonate at the vibration frequency; a step of receiving power in a receiver resonator (50") configured to resonate at the vibration frequency and arranged to receive power from the plurality of transmitter resonators (30") via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction

[1630] ; a step of receiving the power in a receiver module (40") which is in wired telecommunication with the receiver resonator (50")

[1640] ; and a step of converting the received power into DC form via wired telecommunication with the electrical load (70")

[1650] . The method may further include a step of converting the voltage and current of the power from each photocell (420) to a voltage and current suitable for the corresponding transmitter module (20") before converting the power into a vibration power signal. The step of receiving power in the receiver resonator (50")

[1630] may also involve receiving power in receiver resonators arranged around the planar outer periphery of the array of photocells (400).

[0252] Further embodiments of the methods described with reference to Figure 19A and the flowchart in Figure 25 provide a method

[1700] for transmitting power from an array (400') of photocells (420) to a power load (70"), the method comprising the steps of:

[1710] converting power from each photocell of the array (400') to an oscillating power signal having an oscillating frequency in each of a first plurality of corresponding transmitting modules (20"); and

[1720] transmitting power from each of the transmitting modules (20") to a corresponding transmitting resonator (30") from a second plurality of transmitting resonators (30"), wherein each transmitting resonator (30") has an oscillating frequency The method includes the steps of: configuring to resonate at a wavenumber; receiving power from each transmitter resonator (30") in a corresponding receiver resonator (50") configured to resonate at the vibration frequency

[1730] , wherein each receiver resonator (50") is further configured and arranged to receive power from the transmitter resonator (30") via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; receiving power from each receiver resonator (50") in a corresponding receiver module (40") which is in wired telecommunication with the receiver resonator (50")

[1740] ; and converting the received power into DC form via wired telecommunication with the electrical load (70")

[1750] . The method may further include the step of converting the voltage and current of the power from each photocell (420) to a voltage and current suitable for the corresponding transmitter module (20") before converting the power into a vibration power signal.

[0253] Further embodiments described with reference to Figure 19A and the flowchart in Figure 26 provide a method

[1800] for transmitting power from an array (400") of photocells (420) to a power load (70") (in Figure 19A), the method comprising:

[1810] converting power from each photocell of the array (400") of a first plurality of corresponding transmitting modules (20") into an oscillating power signal having an oscillating frequency;

[1820] transmitting power from each transmitting module (20") to a transmitter resonator (30") from a second plurality of transmitter resonators (30"), wherein each transmitter resonator (30") is configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency; and transmitting power from each transmitter resonator (30") is configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency. The method includes the steps of: receiving in any adjacent receiver resonator (30") from a third plurality of receiver resonators (50")

[1830] , each receiver resonator further configured and arranged to receive power from the transmitter resonator via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction

[1830] ; sharing the received power among the third plurality of receiver resonators (50")

[1840] ; and converting the power received from one or more of the third plurality of receiver resonators (50") into DC form via wired telecommunications through one or more corresponding receiver modules

[1850] . The method may further include the steps of converting the voltage and current of the power from each photocell (420) to voltage and current suitable for the corresponding transmitter module (20") before converting the power into an oscillating power signal.

[0254] Figure 27A shows a typical portion (500) of an extended near-field wireless power distribution system in an electric vehicle having a conductive chassis (510). In this embodiment of the general system (10”) in Figure 19A, the power source is a rechargeable battery (520) rather than a solar cell (420), and the load (70”) is an electric motor (530) rather than a battery, as in Figure 19A. The system shown in Figure 14A may optionally include a power adjustment unit (430), as in Figure 19A. In other embodiments, the transmitter modules may function together to provide power adjustment, as described above with reference to Figure 19B.

[0255] The system shown in Figure 27A and described in more detail below may operate by capacitive power transmission, inductive power transmission, or bimodal power transmission. Referring to Figures 4B and 19A, the transmitter resonator (30") comprises a dielectric element (138) sandwiched between conductive antennas (132 and 134). Referring to Figures 4B and 19A, the receiver resonator (50") comprises a dielectric element (158) sandwiched between conductive antennas (152 and 154). The transmitter module (20") is shown mounted directly to the antenna (132), which also functions as a frame or holder for the battery (520). The transmitter module (20") may be electrically connected between the battery (520) and the transmitter resonator (30). The receiver module (40") is shown mounted directly to the electric motor (530). The receiver module (40") may be electrically connected between the receiver resonator (50") and the motor (530).

[0256] Figure 27B shows a typical portion (500') of an extended near-field wireless power distribution system in an electric vehicle having a conductive chassis (510). In this embodiment of the general system (10") in Figure 19A, the power source is again a rechargeable battery (520) instead of a solar cell (420), as in Figure 27A, and the load (70") is an electric motor (530) instead of a battery, as in Figure 19A. The system shown in Figure 27B may optionally include a power adjustment unit (430), as in Figure 19A. In other embodiments, a transmitter module (20") and a receiver module (40") may function together to provide power adjustment, as described above with reference to Figure 19B.

[0257] The system shown in Figure 27B and described in more detail below may operate by capacitive power transmission, inductive power transmission, or bimodal power transmission. Referring to Figures 4B and 19A, the transmitter resonator (30") comprises a dielectric element (138) sandwiched between conductive antennas (132 and 134). Referring to Figures 4B and 19A, the receiver resonator (50") comprises a dielectric element (158) and a conductive antenna (152), and the antenna (154) in Figure 27A is absent in the resonator (50") in this embodiment. The transmitter module (20") is shown mounted directly to the antenna (132), which also functions as a frame or holder for the battery (520). The transmitter module (20") may be electrically connected between the battery (520) and the transmitter resonator (30). The receiver module (40") is shown mounted directly to the electric motor (530). In this embodiment, the receiver module (40") may be electrically connected between the motor (530) and the chassis (510). In this arrangement, there is sufficient coupling between the chassis (510) and the antenna (152) to transmit power with adequate efficiency. Electrically conductive mechanical components of the system, i.e., components having a structural function of supporting loads in the system, may form part of the resonant structure of the power transmission system.

[0258] The embodiments shown in Figures 27A and 27B focus particularly on power supplied to an electric motor (530) that drives one of the vehicle's wheels, but an equivalent arrangement may be implemented in any electrical subsystem of the vehicle using multiple appropriately fitted receiving modules (40"), all powered by a transmitter module (20”).

[0259] The arrangements in Figures 27A and 27B for power transmission from the battery to the vehicle's electrical subsystems eliminate much of the highly complex automotive wire harnesses that pose difficulties during vehicle manufacturing and contribute to significant manufacturing costs. Embodiments of Figures 27A and 27B, along with extensions to other electrical subsystems of the vehicle, are sometimes referred to as "extended near-field wireless power distribution systems."

[0260] This arrangement can extend beyond the other wheels of an electric vehicle to include headlights and other vehicle accessories, including, but not limited to, interior lights, dashboard displays, instruments, digital electronics, navigation systems, and warning systems. The application is not limited to electric vehicles. It can be applied to hybrid or internal combustion engine vehicles to provide power when and where needed. It can also be applied to other vehicles employing any electrical system that requires power. Examples include, but not limited to, electric and non-electric bicycles, aircraft, ships, and other vehicles employing on-board power sources. The battery or power source does not have to be mounted on the vehicle. The principles described with respect to Figures 1–11, 19A–19B, and 27A–27B also apply to stationary power sources, such as, but not limited to, stationary and vehicle systems that need to be powered from fixed rails to power a moving vehicle.

[0261] Figure 28A shows another embodiment of the general system (10”) of Figure 19A in a power supply system (600) for supplying power to a computer monitor (610) placed on a desk (620), where power is supplied from a suitable source via the primary side (12) as shown in Figure 1 and more specifically in Figure 6. In system (600), the transmitting module (20”) and transmitting resonator (30”) of Figure 19A are both incorporated into the primary side (12). In the arrangement of system (600), as shown in Figure 19A, the receiver resonator (50”) forms the base of the monitor (610). The receiver module (40”) of Figure 19A may be incorporated into the base of the monitor (610). Alternatively, the receiver module (40”) of Figure 19A may be incorporated inside the monitor (610) itself. Referring to Figure 4B, the antenna (152) forms the base of the monitor (610) and is separated from the antenna (154) by the dielectric (158).

[0262] The housing and structural frame (630) of the monitor (610) may be at least partially conductive and may function as a single continuous conductor for electrically supplying power signals from the antenna (154) through the receiver module (40”) (see Figure 19A) to the circuit of the monitor (610) representing the load resonator (70”) in Figure 19A. Another electrical connector from the antenna (152) to the circuit of the monitor (610) extends from the antenna (152) to the base of the monitor (610). In other embodiments, the housing and structural frame (630) of the monitor (610) may be a non-conductive polymer, and another conductor extends from the antenna (154) to the circuit of the monitor (610) representing the load resonator (70”) in Figure 19A.

[0263] As shown in another embodiment of the power supply system (600') for supplying power to the computer monitor (610) in Figure 28B, the base of the monitor (610) may consist only of an antenna (152) and a dielectric (158). In this embodiment, a metallic conductive part of the monitor's housing or frame (630) functions as an antenna instead of an antenna (154), and the housing or frame (630) has sufficient coupling with the antenna (152) beneath the dielectric (158) to provide sufficiently efficient power transmission. The receiver module (40") in Figure 19A may be incorporated into the base of the monitor (610). Alternatively, the receiver module (40") in Figure 19A may be incorporated inside the monitor (610) itself. The housing and structural frame (630) of the monitor (610) may function as a single continuous electrical conductor for supplying power signals to the monitor (610) circuitry representing the load resonator (70") in Figure 19A via the receiving module (40).

[0264] The system (600) may optionally include a power adjustment unit (430) as shown in Figure 19A. In some embodiments, the transmitting module (20”) and the receiving module (40”) may work together to provide power adjustment as described with reference to Figure 19A, although they use near-field wireless power transmission. The near-field wireless power transmission system in Figure 28A eliminates the need for cumbersome power cables to supply power to the monitor (610) and employs the system's mechanical structural elements as integrated electrical / electronic components in the power transmission arrangement.

[0265] A method

[2000] for transmitting power from a DC power source (420) to a power load (70") is provided, as described with reference to the flowchart in Figure 29 and the systems in Figures 19A and 19B, the method comprising the steps

[2010] of providing a power transmission system (10'', 410) in wired telecommunication with the power source (420), wherein the power transmission system (10'', 410) comprises an oscillator (26A'', capable of vibrating at an oscillatory frequency, a power amplifier (26B'', and a transmitter tuning network (28'', both under the control of a transmitter controller (22'', and a receiver tuning network (48'', and a load management system (46E'', both under the control of a receiver controller (42'', and the load management system (46E'', the load management system (46E'', and the load management system) in wired telecommunication with the power load (70'', and the load management system) The process includes: a step of converting power from the power supply (420) into a vibration power signal having a vibration frequency in the power amplifier (26B")

[2020] ; a step of transmitting the power signal from the power amplifier (26B") to the load management system (46E") via the transmitter tuning network and the receiver tuning network under the control of the transmitter controller

[2030] ; a step of adjusting at least one of the vibration frequency, the input DC equivalent resistance of the power amplifier (26B"), the transmitter tuning network (28"), the receiver tuning network (48"), and the load management system (46E") in order to change the power transmission speed

[2040] ; and a step of converting the power received by the load management system (46E") into DC form via a wired telecommunication state with a power load (70")

[2050] .

[0266] The step

[2030] of transmitting the power signal via the transmitter tuning network (28”) and the receiver tuning network (48”) may include transmitting power by wired communication or wireless communication. Transmitting power by wireless communication may include transmitting power by near-field wireless communication. Transmitting power by near-field wireless communication may include transmitting power by at least one of capacitive coupling and inductive coupling. Transmitting power from a DC power source (420) may include transmitting power from at least one solar cell (420). Transmitting power from a DC power source may include transmitting power from at least one battery. Transmitting power from a DC power source may include transmitting power from a power source with a fluctuating voltage.

[0267] In another embodiment described in further detail by reference to the flowchart of FIG. 30 and the systems of FIGS. 19A and 19B, a method

[2100] for transmitting power from a DC power source (420) to a power load (70”) is provided, the method comprising the step

[2110] of providing a power transmission system (10”, 410) in a wired electrical communication state with a power source (420), the power transmission system (10”, 410) including an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier (46D) (see FIG. 7) in a wired electrical contact state with the power load (70”) and a radio frequency power amplifier (26B”) in a radio frequency communication state, the step of converting the power from the DC power source (420) into a radio frequency oscillating power signal in the power amplifier (26B”)

[2120] , the step of converting the radio frequency oscillating power signal into a DC power signal in the rectifier (46D)

[2130] , and the step of adjusting the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier (46D)

[2140] . Providing the adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier may include providing a differential self-synchronizing radio frequency rectifier (46D).

[0268] The method

[2100] may further include a step of adjusting the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the DC equivalent input resistance of the power amplifier (26B"). The step

[2110] of providing the power transmission system (10", 410) may include providing a load management system (46E") in a wired communication state between the rectifier (46D) and the power load (70"). Adjusting the DC equivalent input resistance of the power amplifier (26B") may include adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier (46D) by adjusting the load management system (46E"). The adjustment of the load management system (46E") may include automatically adjusting the load management system (46E").

[0269] The method

[2100] may further include a step of adjusting the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier (26B"). The step

[2110] of providing the power transmission system (10", 410) may include providing a transmitter controller (22") in communication with the power amplifier (26B") to control the power amplifier (26B"). The adjustment of the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier (26B") may be performed by the transmitter controller (22"). The adjustment of the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier (26B") may be automatically performed by the transmitter controller (22").

[0270] The method

[2100] may further include a step of adjusting the efficiency of power transmission by changing the oscillation frequency of the power amplifier (26B").

[0271] The step

[2110] of providing the power transmission system (10", 410) may include providing a receiver controller (42") in communication with the rectifier (46D) to control the rectifier (46D). The adjustment of the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier (46D) may be performed by the receiver controller (42"). The adjustment of the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier (46D) may be automatically performed by the receiver controller (42").

[0272] Step

[2110] of providing a power transmission system (10”, 410) may include providing a power amplifier (26B”) that is in direct wired radio frequency communication state with an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier (46D) (via the connection (60”) in Figure 19B). Step

[2110] of providing the power transmission system (10”, 410) may also include providing a power amplifier (26B”) that is in wireless near-field radio frequency communication state with the adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier (46D).

[0273] The step of providing the power transmission system (10", 410)

[2110] may include providing the power amplifier (26B) and a transmitter resonator (30) in a wired radio frequency communication state, and the radio frequency rectifier (46D) and a receiver resonator (50) in a wired radio frequency communication state. The method

[2100] may further include the step of operating the transmitter resonator (30) and the receiver resonator (50) which are in a wireless near-field radio frequency communication state with each other. The step of providing the power transmission system (10", 410)

[2110] may also include providing the rectifier (46D) and a power amplifier (26B) which is in at least one state of capacitive near-field wireless radio frequency communication and inductive near-field wireless radio frequency communication. The step of providing the power transmission system (10), 410

[2110] may also include providing the adjustable rectifier (46D) and a power amplifier (26B) in a two-way wireless near-field communication state.

[0274] Method

[2100] further includes the steps of providing a power adjustment unit (430) electrically positioned between the power supply (420) and the power transmission system (10"), and adjusting the power adjustment unit (430) to adjust at least one of the current and voltage from the power supply (420) in order to improve the efficiency of power transmission.

[0275] Based on a more detailed examination of the systems in Figures 19A and 19B, and with reference to Figure 7, a generalized electrical transmission system (10”, 410) for supplying power from a DC power source (420) to a power load (70”) includes a radio frequency power amplifier (26B”) which is in wired telecommunication with the power source (420) and configured to convert the DC voltage from the power source (420) into an AC voltage signal having a oscillating frequency, and a radio frequency power amplifier (26B”) which is in wired electrical contact with the power load (70”) and is configured to convert the DC voltage from the power source (420) into an AC voltage signal having a oscillating frequency. The system comprises an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier in a communication state, the phase radio frequency rectifier configured to receive power transmitted from the power amplifier (26B”), and a receiver controller (42”) in communication state with the rectifier (46D), configured to adjust the efficiency of power transmission from the power amplifier (26B”) to the rectifier (46D) by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier (46D). The receiver controller (42”) may be configured to automatically adjust the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier (46D). The rectifier may be a differential self-synchronizing radio frequency rectifier.

[0276] The power transmission system (10”, 410) is in wired communication with the power load (70”) and may further include a power signal load management system (46E”) positioned in the power signal direction between the power load (70”) and the rectifier (46D), wherein the load management system (46E”) is configured to increase the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier (46D). The load management system (46E”) may be configured to automatically adjust the input impedance of the rectifier (46D).

[0277] The power transmission system (10”, 410) may further include a transmitter controller (22”) in communication with the power amplifier (26B”), the transmitter controller (22”) configured to increase the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier (26B”). The transmitter controller (22”) may be configured to automatically adjust the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier (26B”) to increase the efficiency of power transmission.

[0278] The power transmission system (10), 410 may further include an oscillator (26B) and an oscillator (26A) in communication with a transmitter controller (22). The transmitter controller (22) may be configured to adjust the oscillation frequency via the oscillator (26A).

[0279] The power amplifier (26B) may be in direct wired radio frequency communication with an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier (46D) (via the connection (60) in Figure 19B). The power amplifier (26B) may also be in wireless near-field radio frequency communication with the adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier (46D). The power transmission system (10", 410) may include a transmitter resonator (30) in wired radio frequency communication with the power amplifier (26B) and a receiver resonator (50) in wired radio frequency communication with the rectifier (46D). The transmitter resonator (30) and the receiver resonator (50) may be in wireless near-field radio frequency communication with each other. The power amplifier (26B) may be in communication with the rectifier (46D) in at least one of capacitive near-field wireless radio frequency communication and inductive near-field wireless radio frequency communication. The power amplifier (26B) may be in a two-way near-field wireless radio frequency communication state with the rectifier (46D).

[0280] The power transmission system may further include a power adjustment unit (430) electrically positioned between the power supply (420) and the power amplifier (26B"), the power adjustment unit (430) being configured to adjust at least one of the current and voltage from the power supply (420) to improve the efficiency of power transmission.

[0281] In another embodiment, as described in relation to Figures 19A, 19B, 27A and 27B, and 28A and 28B, the electric system comprises a mechanical load support structure (510, 630) having a first conductive portion, a power load, and a power transmission system (10, 410) comprising at least one radio frequency resonator (30, 50") configured for near-field wireless power transmission, wherein the resonator has at least a partially conductive first portion. The electric system further comprises a rechargeable battery (520), and the power load may comprise an electric motor (530). The electric system is an electric vehicle (500, 500'), and the mechanical load support structure may comprise the chassis (510) of the electric vehicle. The electric system is a display monitor (610), and the mechanical load support structure may comprise at least one of the frame (630) and base of the display monitor.

[0282] The electric system may further include a power supply. The power transmission system includes a radio frequency power amplifier (26B") which is in wired telecommunication with the power supply and configured to convert a DC voltage from the power supply into an AC voltage signal having an oscillating frequency; an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier (46D) which is in wired electrical contact with a power load (70") and is in radio frequency communication with the power amplifier (26B"); a rectifier (46D) configured to receive power transmitted from the power amplifier (26B"); and a receiver controller (42") which is in communication with the rectifier (46D) and is configured to adjust the efficiency of power transmission from the power amplifier (26B") to the rectifier (46D) by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier (46D).

[0283] In another embodiment, as depicted in Figures 19A and 19B, 27A and 27B, and 28A and 28B, the apparatus comprises a mechanical load support structure (510, 630) having a first conductive portion, a power supply, a power load (70”, 530, 610), and a power transmission system (10”, 410), wherein the power transmission system (10”, 410) is in wired telecommunication with the power supply and configured to convert a DC voltage from the power supply into an AC voltage signal having an oscillating frequency, and is in wired electrical contact with the power load (70”, and is wirelessly connected to the power amplifier (26B”). The system comprises an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier (46D) in a frequency communication state, a rectifier (46D) configured to receive power transmitted from a power amplifier (26B”), and a receiver controller (42”) in communication state with the rectifier (46D), configured to adjust the efficiency of power transmission from the power amplifier (26B”) to the rectifier (46D) by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier (46D), wherein a conductive first portion is arranged to transmit radio frequency signals from the power amplifier (26B”) and to the rectifier (46D) at least one of them.

[0284] The device may further include a power signal load management system (46E) which is in wired communication with the power load (70") and is positioned in the power signal direction between the power load (70") and the rectifier (46D), wherein the load management system (46E) is configured to increase the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier (46D). The device may further include a transmitter controller (22") which is in communication with the power amplifier (26B"), wherein the transmitter controller (22") is configured to increase the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier (26B). The device may further include an oscillator (26A) which is in communication with the power amplifier (26B) and the transmitter controller (22), wherein the transmitter controller (22) is configured to adjust the oscillation frequency using the oscillator (26A).

[0285] The power amplifier (26B) may be in direct wired radio frequency communication with the rectifier (46D) via a conductive first portion. The power amplifier (26B) may also be in wireless near-field radio frequency communication with the rectifier (46D). The power transmission system (10", 410) may include a transmitter resonator (30) in wired radio frequency communication with the power amplifier (26B) and a receiver resonator (50) in wired radio frequency communication with the rectifier (46D), and one of the transmitter resonator (30) and the receiver resonator (50) may include the conductive first portion. The transmitter resonator (30) and the receiver resonator (50) may be in wireless near-field radio frequency communication with each other. The power amplifier (26B) may be in communication with the rectifier (46D) using at least one of capacitive near-field wireless radio frequency communication and inductive near-field wireless radio frequency communication. The power amplifier (26B) may be in a two-way near-field wireless radio frequency communication state with the rectifier (46D). The DC power supply may include a rechargeable battery (520), and the power load may include an electric motor (530).

[0286] Current Preferred Embodiment 1. In one current preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a two-mode near-field resonant wireless power transmission system configured to simultaneously transmit capacitive and inductive power at a variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency, according to an adjustable transmission mode ratio of capacitive and inductive power transmission, the system comprising: a transmitter subsystem comprising a transmitter antenna subsystem and a power signal tuner module, the power signal tuner module being configured to adjust the transmission mode ratio by adjusting the power signal supplied to the transmitter antenna subsystem by the power signal tuner module; and a receiver subsystem comprising a receiver antenna subsystem configured to receive power from the transmitter antenna at the transmission mode ratio. 2. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 1, wherein the power signal tuner module is configured to adjust the power signal by adjusting the phase difference between the current and voltage of the power signal provided to the transmitter antenna subsystem. 3. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 2, wherein the transmitter subsystem further comprises a controller and at least one sensor, the controller being configured to receive sensor information from the at least one sensor and to automatically provide tuning commands to the power signal tuner module based on the sensor information, and the tuner module being configured to adjust the phase difference between the current and voltage of the power signal provided to the transmitter antenna subsystem in accordance with the tuning commands. 4. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 3, wherein at least one sensor is located on the transmitter subsystem. 5. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 3, wherein at least one sensor is located on the receiver subsystem and the controller is configured to receive the sensor information wirelessly. 6. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to any one of paragraphs 3-5, wherein at least one of the sensors comprises a power load sensor. 7. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to any one of paragraphs 3-6, wherein at least one of the sensors comprises a transmit power sensor. 8. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to any one of paragraphs 3-7, wherein at least one of the sensors comprises an ambient object detector. 9. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to any one of paragraphs 3-8, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a distance detector for detecting the distance between the transmitter antenna subsystem and the receiver antenna subsystem. 10. The variable resonant power signal oscillation frequency varies freely within a predetermined frequency band, as described in any one of paragraphs 1-9, for the two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system. 11. The two - mode near - field resonance wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 10, wherein the predetermined frequency band is between 1 MHz and 1 GHz. 12. The two - mode near - field resonance wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 10, wherein the system is detuned to such an extent that the variable resonance power signal oscillation frequency can vary within the opposition limit in the predetermined frequency band. 13. In one current preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a wireless power transmission system, the wireless power transmission system comprising a primary side having a transmitter module and a transmitter resonator, wherein the transmitter module is configured to adjust current values and voltage values to the transmitter resonator, thereby generating an oscillating magnetic field and an oscillating electric field from the transmitter resonator to adjust a transmission mode ratio between capacitive power transmission and inductive power transmission; and a secondary side having a receiver module and a receiver resonator, wherein the receiver resonator is configured to generate a current when disposed within the oscillating electric field and the oscillating magnetic field generated by the transmitter resonator, and the receiver module transmits the current from the transmitter resonator to a load. 14. The two - mode near - field resonance wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 13, wherein the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator each comprise at least one antenna. 15. The two - mode near - field resonance wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 14, wherein the at least one antenna is in a coil shape. 16. The two - mode near - field resonance wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 14, wherein the at least one antenna is in a zig - zag shape. 17. The two - mode near - field resonance wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 15 or 16, wherein the at least one antenna further comprises a sharp - angled corner portion. )18. The two - mode near - field resonance wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 14, wherein the at least one antenna is circular. 19. The two - mode near - field resonance wireless power transmission system according to any one of paragraphs 3 to 5, wherein the at least one antenna is substantially flat. 20. A two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to any one of paragraphs 14-19, comprising at least two antennas. 21. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 20, wherein at least two antennas are separated by a spacer. 22. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 21, wherein the spacer includes air, a dielectric material, ferrite, or a combination thereof. 23. In one current preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a wireless power transmission system, the wireless power transmission system comprising a transmitting subsystem, the transmitting subsystem comprising one or more transmitter resonators and one or more transmitter modules for controlling power signal outputs to the one or more transmitter resonators, each transmitter module comprising a controller, the one or more transmitter modules being in electrical communication with the one or more transmitter resonators. 24. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 60, wherein each of the one or more transmitter resonators is connected to one of the one or more transmitter modules to form one or more transmitter pairs. 25. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 61, wherein the one or more transmitter pairs are electrically isolated from each other. 26. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 62, wherein the one or more transmitter pairs are electrically isolated from each other by a grounded shielding grid such that there is no electrical communication between the one or more transmitter pairs. 27. A two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to any one of paragraphs 60-63, wherein the transmit controller of each transmitter module is equipped with a load detector for measuring the input impedance of the connected transmitter resonator. 28. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 64, wherein the transmitting controller varies the frequency of the power signal based on the measured input impedance of the connected transmitter. 29. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 65, wherein each transmitting controller of one or more transmitting modules comprises a tuner module for varying the phase of the output of the power signal. 30. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to any one of paragraphs 60-66, wherein one or more transmitter resonators are configured to form a transmitting surface. 31. A two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to any one of paragraphs 60-67, further comprising one or more receiver subsystems, each comprising one or more receiver resonators. 32. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 68, wherein the transmit controller of each transmitter module is equipped with a load detector for measuring the input impedance of one or more connected transmitter resonators, and the load detector detects a change in the input impedance when one or more receiver resonators are close to one or more connected transmitter resonators. 33. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 69, wherein the transmitting controller varies the frequency of the power signal based on the measured input impedance of the connected transmitter. 34. The two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 70, wherein the controller comprises a tuner module for varying the phase of the power signal. 35. A two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to any one of paragraphs 68-71, wherein power is transmitted at a resonant frequency from one or more transmitter resonators of the transmitting subsystem to one or more receiver resonators of the one or more receiver subsystems. 36. A two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to any one of paragraphs 68-72, wherein power is transmitted by near-field magnetic induction from one or more transmitter resonators of the transmitting subsystem to one or more receiver resonators of the one or more receiver subsystems. 37. A two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to any one of paragraphs 68-73, wherein power is transmitted by near-field capacitance from one or more transmitter resonators of the transmitting subsystem to one or more receiver resonators of the one or more receiver subsystems. 38. A load detector of the transmitter controller of each transmitter module measures the input impedance of one connected transmitter resonator in the two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system described in any one of paragraphs 69-74. 39. A load detector of the transmitter controller of each transmitter module measures the input impedance of the two connected transmitter resonators in the two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system described in any one of paragraphs 69-74. 40. A load detector on the transmitter controller of each transmitter module measures the input impedance of the three connected transmitter resonators in the two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system described in any one of paragraphs 69-74. 41. A two-way near-field resonant wireless power transmission system as described in any one of paragraphs 69-74, wherein the load detector of the transmitter controller of each transmitter module measures the input impedance of four or more connected transmitter resonators. 42. In one current preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for varying a power signal in a wireless transmission system, the method comprising: providing a transmitting surface comprising one or more transmitter resonators; monitoring the input impedance of each of the one or more transmitter resonators; and controlling a power signal output to each of the one or more transmitter resonators based on the input impedance. 43. The method according to paragraph 79, further comprising the step of calibrating the baseline impedance for one or more transmitter resonators. 44. The method according to paragraph 80, further comprising the steps of assigning an off state to one of the one or more transmitter resonators when the input impedance is less than the baseline impedance, or assigning an on state to one of the transmitter resonators when the input impedance exceeds the baseline impedance. 45. The method according to paragraph 81, further comprising the step of setting the frequency of the power signal output to one or more transmitter resonators assigned to the startup state. 46. ​​The method according to paragraph 82, further comprising the step of adjusting the phase of the power output signals of one or more transmitter resonators assigned to the startup state to the maximum power transmission phase, wherein the power transmission through the transmitter resonators is substantially maximum. 47. The method according to any one of paragraphs 79-83, further comprising the step of providing one or more receiver resonators adjacent to the transmitting surface. 48. In one current preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a near-field resonant wireless power transmission system, the near-field resonant wireless power transmission system comprising: a transmitting subsystem comprising a plurality of substantially isolated transmitter resonators and a corresponding transmitter module in power signal communication state with each transmitter resonator, each transmitter module comprising a transmitting controller and a power signal source having a power signal oscillation frequency and a power signal phase, each power signal source being controlled by the corresponding transmitting controller; one or more receiver subsystems, each comprising a corresponding receiver resonator; a software lookup table of individual power signal oscillation frequencies enabled for the power signal source; and software loaded into memory and executed by the controller of any of the transmitter modules, which transmits one of the input impedance of the corresponding transmitter resonator and the test signal power consumption by the corresponding transmitter resonator, and performs the action of selecting a frequency from the lookup table for the corresponding power signal source based on the input impedance of the corresponding transmitter resonator and the test signal power consumption by the corresponding transmitter resonator. 49. The near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 85, wherein, during execution, the software performs the action of adjusting the phase of the power signal from the corresponding power signal source while measuring the power value transmitted by the corresponding transmitter resonator. 50. A near-field resonant wireless power transmission system according to paragraph 85 or 86, wherein the transmitter resonators are substantially isolated from each other by a grounded shielding grid. 51. In one current preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a near-field wireless system for transmitting power from one or more photocells to a power load, the near-field wireless system comprising: one or more transmitting modules in telecommunication state with one or more photocells, each transmitting module configured to convert power from one of the one or more photocells into an oscillating power signal having an oscillating frequency; one or more transmitter resonators in telecommunication state with the one or more transmitting modules, each transmitter resonator configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency; and one A near-field wireless system comprising: one or more receiver resonators, each configured to resonate at the vibration frequency and arranged to receive power from one or more transmitter resonators via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; and one or more receiver modules in telecommunication state with the receiver resonators, each configured to receive power from at least one of the one or more receiver resonators, convert the power received from the receiver resonators into a DC voltage, and transmit the DC voltage to the power load. 52. The near-field wireless system according to paragraph 1, wherein each of the one or more transmitting modules comprises a power amplifier configured to adjust the power received from the one or more photovoltaic cells at the vibration frequency. 53. The near-field wireless system according to paragraph 24, wherein each of the one or more transmitting modules comprises an oscillator configured to provide the vibration frequency to the power amplifier. 54. The near-field wireless system according to any one of paragraphs 1-25, wherein each of the one or more transmitting modules comprises a controller and one or more sensors, the controller being configured to vary the vibration frequency based on first information obtained from at least one of the one or more sensors. 55. The near-field wireless system according to paragraph 26, wherein each of the one or more transmitting modules is configured, under the control of the controller, to change the phase of at least one of the power supplied by the transmitting module to the one or more transmitter resonators based on second information obtained from at least one of the one or more sensors. 56. A near-field wireless system according to any one of paragraphs 1-27, comprising one or more power adjustment units electrically connected between one or more photocells and one or more transmitting modules, each power adjustment unit configured to adapt power from at least one of the one or more photocells to a format compatible with the one or more transmitting modules. 57. The near-field wireless system according to paragraph 28, wherein each of the one or more transmitting modules comprises a small signaling electronic circuit, and the power regulating unit is further configured to provide power to the small signaling electronic circuit. 58. The near-field wireless system according to any one of paragraphs 1-29, wherein the one or more transmitter resonators are positioned on the surface of at least one of the one or more photocells, opposite to the dynamic solar radiation receiving surface of at least one of the one or more photocells. 59. The near-field wireless system according to paragraph 30, wherein the one or more transmitter resonators comprises a surface region that is at least one major fraction of the dynamic solar radiation receiving surface of at least one of the one or more photocells. 60. A near-field wireless system according to any one of paragraphs 1-31, wherein each transmitter resonator has a first planar region, and each receiver resonator has a second planar region, the second planar region being larger than the first planar region. 61. The near-field wireless system according to any one of paragraphs 1-32, wherein each receiver resonator of the one or more receiver resonators is arranged and configured to receive power from one or more of the one or more transmitter resonators via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction at the resonant frequency. 62. The near-field wireless system according to any one of paragraphs 1-33, wherein one or more transmitting modules are in telecommunications state with one or more photovoltaic cells via a wired connection. 63. The near-field wireless system according to any one of paragraphs 1-34, wherein one or more transmitting modules are in telecommunication state with one or more transmitter resonators via a wired connection. 64. The near-field wireless system according to any one of paragraphs 1-35, wherein one or more receiver modules are in telecommunication state with one or more receiver resonators via a wired connection. 65. In one current preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for transmitting power from a photocell to a power load, the method comprising: in a transmitting module, converting power from the photocell into an oscillating power signal having an oscillating frequency; transmitting the power to a transmitter resonator configured to be in wired telecommunications with the transmitting module and to resonate at the oscillating frequency; receiving the power from the transmitter resonator in a receiver resonator via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction, wherein the receiver resonator is configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency; receiving the power from the receiver resonator in a receiver module in wired telecommunications with the receiver resonator; converting the power into a DC form; and transmitting the power to the power load via wired telecommunications. 66. The method according to paragraph 37, further comprising the step of converting the voltage and current of the power from the photocell to a voltage and current suitable for the transmitting module before converting the power to a vibration power signal. 67. A method for transmitting power from an array of photocells to a power load, comprising: in each of a plurality of corresponding transmitting modules, the steps of: converting power from each of the photocells in the array of photocells into an oscillating power signal having an oscillating frequency; transmitting the power in each of the transmitting modules to corresponding transmitter resonators of a plurality of transmitter resonators, each transmitter resonator configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency; receiving the power from the plurality of transmitter resonators in a receiver resonator via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction, the receiver resonator configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency; receiving the power in a receiver module that is in wired telecommunications with the receiver resonator; converting the power into a DC form; and transmitting the power to the power load via wired telecommunications. 68. The method according to paragraph 39, further comprising the step of converting the voltage and current of the power from each photocell to voltage and current that are suitable for the corresponding transmitting module, before converting the power into an oscillating power signal. 69. In one current preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for transmitting power from an array of photocells to a power load, the method comprising: converting power from each photocell in the array to an oscillating power signal having an oscillating frequency in each of a first plurality of corresponding transmitting modules; transmitting power from each of the transmitting modules to corresponding transmitter resonators of a second plurality of transmitter resonators, each transmitter resonator configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency; receiving power from each transmitter resonator in corresponding receiver resonators configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency, each receiver resonator further configured and arranged to receive power from the transmitter resonators via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; receiving power from each receiver resonator in corresponding receiver modules that are in wired telecommunication with the receiver resonators; and converting the received power into a DC form via wired telecommunication with the power load. 70. The method according to paragraph 41, further comprising the step of converting the voltage and current of the power from each photocell to voltage and current that are suitable for the corresponding transmitting module, before converting the power into an oscillating power signal. 71. In one current preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for transmitting power from an array of photocells to a power load, the method comprising: converting power from each photocell in the array of photocells into an oscillating power signal having an oscillating frequency in each of a plurality of corresponding transmitting modules; transmitting power from each of the transmitting modules to one transmitter resonator of a plurality of transmitter resonators, each transmitter resonator configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency; receiving power from each transmitter resonator in any adjacent receiver resonator of a plurality of receiver resonators configured to resonate at the oscillating frequency, each receiver resonator further configured and arranged to receive power from the transmitter resonator via at least one of capacitive coupling and magnetic induction; sharing the received power among the plurality of receiver resonators; converting the received power in one or more receiver resonators of the plurality of receiver resonators into a DC form; and transmitting the power in the DC form to the power load via wired telecommunications. 72. The method according to paragraph 43, further comprising the step of converting the voltage and current of the power from each photocell to voltage and current that are suitable for the corresponding transmitting module, before converting the power into an oscillating power signal. 73. A photovoltaic power collection system for transmitting power from a plurality of photovoltaic cells to a power load, comprising: one or more power adjustment units in telecommunication with one or more of the plurality of photovoltaic cells; and at least one receiver module in telecommunication with the one or more power adjustment units, wherein each power adjustment unit is configured to adapt the power from the one or more photovoltaic cells to a format compatible with the receiver module, and the receiver module is configured to adapt the power from the power adjustment units to a format compatible with the power load, the at least one receiver module. 74. The photovoltaic collection system according to paragraph 45, wherein each photovoltaic cell is provided with one power adjustment unit. 75. The photovoltaic collection system according to paragraph 45 or 46, wherein one or more power regulating units are in telecommunication state with one or more photovoltaic cells via a wired connection. 76. The photovoltaic power collection system according to any one of paragraphs 45-47, wherein at least one receiver module is in telecommunications state with one or more power regulating units via a wired connection. 77. The photovoltaic power collection system according to any one of paragraphs 45-48, wherein the at least one receiver module is in telecommunication state with the two power loads via a wired connection. 78. A photovoltaic collection system according to any one of paragraphs 45-49, further comprising one or more power regulating units, the at least one receiver module, and one or more power amplifiers in telecommunication state. 79. The photovoltaic power collection system according to paragraph 50, wherein one or more power amplifiers are in telecommunication with one or more power adjustment units via a wired connection, and one or more power amplifiers are in telecommunication with at least one receiver module via a wired connection. 80. The photovoltaic power collection system according to paragraph 50 or 51, wherein the power amplifier converts DC power received from one or more power adjustment units into AC power. 81. The photovoltaic power collection system according to paragraph 52, wherein the power amplifier transmits the AC power to the at least one receiver module. 82. In one current preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for transmitting power from a plurality of photovoltaic cells to a power load, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting power from the plurality of photovoltaic cells to one or more power regulating units; formatting the power into a format compatible with the power load; and transmitting the power to the power load. 83. The method according to paragraph 54, wherein the step of converting the power into a format compatible with the power load includes converting the power into DC power. 84. The method according to paragraph 54, wherein the step of converting the power into a format compatible with the power load includes converting the power into alternating current power. 85. The method according to any one of paragraphs 54-56, comprising the steps of: formatting the power into a format compatible with one or more receiver modules; and transmitting the power to one or more receiver modules prior to the step of formatting the power into a format compatible with the power load. 86. The method according to paragraph 57, wherein the step of converting the power into a format compatible with the one or more receiver modules includes converting the power into alternating current power. 87. The method according to paragraph 57, wherein the step of converting the power into a format compatible with the one or more receiver modules includes converting the power to DC power. 88. In one current preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for transmitting power from a DC power source to a power load, the method comprising: providing a power transmission system in wired telecommunication with the power source, the power transmission system comprising an oscillator capable of vibrating at a vibration frequency, a power amplifier and a transmitter tuning network under the control of a transmitter controller, a receiver tuning network and a load management system under the control of a receiver controller, the load management system comprising a receiver tuning network and a load management system in wired telecommunication with the power load; the power amplifier converting power from the power source into a vibrating power signal having a vibration frequency; transmitting the power signal from the power amplifier to the load management system via the transmitter tuning network and the receiver tuning network under the control of the transmitter controller; adjusting at least one of the vibration frequency, the input DC equivalent resistance of the power amplifier, the transmitter tuning network, the receiver tuning network and the load management system to change the power transmission speed; and converting the power load received by the load management system into DC form via wired telecommunication. 89. The method according to paragraph 88, wherein the step of transmitting the power signal via the transmitter tuning network and the receiver tuning network includes transmitting power by wired communication. 90. The method according to paragraph 88, wherein the step of transmitting the power signal via the transmitter tuning network and the receiver tuning network includes transmitting power by wireless communication. 91. The method of paragraph 90, wherein the transmission of power by wireless communication includes transmitting power by near-field wireless communication. 92. The method according to paragraph 91, wherein the transmission of power by near-field wireless communication comprises transmitting power by at least one of capacitive coupling and inductive coupling. 93. The method according to any one of paragraphs 88-92, wherein the transmission of power from a DC power source includes transmitting power from at least one solar cell. 94. The method according to any one of paragraphs 88-93, wherein the transmission of power from a DC power source includes transmitting power from at least one battery. 95. The method according to any one of paragraphs 88-94, which includes transmitting power from a DC power source with a fluctuating voltage. 96. In one current preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for power transmission from a DC power source to a power load, the method comprising: providing a power transmission system in wired telecommunication state with the power source, the power transmission system comprising a radio frequency power amplifier in radio frequency communication state and an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier in wired electrical contact state with the power load; converting power from the DC power source in the power amplifier into a radio frequency oscillating power signal; converting the radio frequency oscillating power signal in the rectifier into a DC power signal; and adjusting the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier. 97. The method according to paragraph 96, wherein providing the adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier includes providing a differential self-synchronizing radio frequency rectifier. 98. The method according to paragraph 96 or 97, further comprising the step of adjusting the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the DC equivalent input resistance of the power amplifier. 99. The method according to paragraph 97, wherein the step of providing the power transmission system includes providing a load management system in a wired communication state between the rectifier and the power load. 100. The method according to paragraph 99, wherein adjusting the DC equivalent input resistance of the power amplifier includes adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier by adjusting the load management system. 101. The method according to paragraph 100, wherein the adjustment of the load management system includes automatically adjusting the load management system. 102. The method according to paragraph 96, further comprising the step of adjusting the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier. 103. The method according to paragraph 102, wherein the step of providing the power transmission system includes providing a transmitter controller that is in communication with the power amplifier in order to control the power amplifier. 104. The method according to paragraph 103, wherein the adjustment of the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier is performed by the transmitter controller. 105. The method according to paragraph 104, wherein the adjustment of the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier is performed automatically by the transmitter controller. 106. The method according to paragraph 96, further comprising the step of adjusting the efficiency of power transmission by changing the vibration frequency of the power amplifier. 107. The method according to paragraph 96, wherein the step of providing a power transmission system includes providing a receiver controller that is in communication with the rectifier in order to control the rectifier. 108. The method according to paragraph 107, wherein the adjustment of the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier is performed by the receiver controller. 109. The method according to paragraph 108, wherein the adjustment of the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier is performed automatically by the receiver controller. 110. The method according to paragraph 96, wherein the step of providing the power transmission system includes providing the adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier and a power amplifier in direct wired radio frequency communication state. 111. The method according to paragraph 96, wherein the step of providing the power transmission system includes providing the adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier and a power amplifier in a wireless near-field radio frequency communication state. 112. The method according to paragraph 96, wherein the step of providing the power transmission system includes providing the power amplifier and a transmitter resonator in a wired radio frequency communication state, and the radio frequency rectifier and a receiver resonator in a wired radio frequency communication state. 113. The method according to paragraph 112, further comprising the step of operating the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator, which are in a wireless near-field radio frequency communication state with each other. 114. The method according to paragraph 96, wherein the step of providing the power transmission system includes providing a power amplifier in communication with the rectifier, in at least one of capacitive near-field wireless radio frequency communication and inductive near-field wireless radio frequency communication. 115. The method according to paragraph 96, wherein the step of providing the power transmission system includes providing the rectifier and a power amplifier in a two-way near-field wireless communication state. 116. The method according to paragraph 96, further comprising the steps of providing a power adjustment unit electrically positioned between the power supply and the power amplifier, and adjusting the power adjustment unit to adjust at least one of the current and voltage from the power supply in order to improve the efficiency of power transmission. 117. In one current preferred embodiment, a power transmission system for supplying power from a DC power source to a power load, the power transmission system comprising: a radio frequency power amplifier, which is in wired telecommunication state with the power source and configured to convert a DC voltage from the power source into an AC voltage signal having an oscillating frequency; an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier, which is in wired electrical contact state with a power load and is in radio frequency communication state with the power amplifier; a rectifier, which is configured to receive power transmitted from the power amplifier; and a receiver controller, which is in communication state with the rectifier and configured to adjust the efficiency of power transmission from the power amplifier to the rectifier by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier. 118. The power transmission system according to paragraph 117, wherein the receiver controller is configured to automatically adjust the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier. 119. The power transmission system according to paragraph 117, further comprising a load management system in wired communication with the power load, and a power signal placed between the power load and the rectifier, wherein the load management system is configured to increase the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier. 120. The power transmission system according to paragraph 119, wherein the load management system is configured to automatically adjust the input impedance of the rectifier. 121. The power transmission system according to paragraph 117, further comprising a transmitter controller in communication with the power amplifier, wherein the transmitter controller is configured to increase the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier. 122. The power transmission system according to paragraph 121, wherein the transmitter controller is configured to automatically adjust the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier in order to increase the efficiency of power transmission. 123. The power transmission system according to paragraph 117, further comprising an oscillator in communication with the power amplifier and the transmitter controller, wherein the transmitter controller is configured to adjust the oscillation frequency by the oscillator. 124. The power transmission system according to paragraph 117, wherein the power amplifier is in direct wired radio frequency communication with the rectifier. 125. The power transmission system according to paragraph 117, wherein the power amplifier is in wireless near-field radio frequency communication with the rectifier. 126. The power transmission system according to paragraph 117, comprising the power amplifier and a transmitter resonator in wired radio frequency communication state, and the rectifier and a receiver resonator in wired radio frequency communication state. 127. The power transmission system according to paragraph 126, wherein the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator are in a state of wireless near-field radio frequency communication with each other. 128. The power transmission system according to paragraph 117, wherein the power amplifier is in communication with the rectifier in at least one of capacitive near-field wireless radio frequency communication and inductive near-field wireless radio frequency communication. 129. The power transmission system according to paragraph 117, wherein the power amplifier is in a state of two-way near-field wireless radio frequency communication with the rectifier. 130. The power transmission system according to paragraph 117, wherein the DC power supply comprises a rechargeable battery and the power load comprises an electric motor. 131. The power transmission system according to paragraph 117, wherein the power load is equipped with a display monitor. 132. The power transmission system according to paragraph 117, wherein the resonant structure of the system comprises at least one conductive mechanical load that holds the structural elements of the system. 133. The power transmission system according to paragraph 117, further comprising a power adjustment unit electrically positioned between the power supply and the power amplifier, wherein the power adjustment unit is configured to adjust at least one of the current and voltage from the power supply in order to improve the efficiency of power transmission. 134. In one current preferred embodiment, the present invention provides an electric system comprising a mechanical load support structure having a first conductive portion, a power load, and a power transmission system comprising at least one radio frequency resonator configured for near-field wireless power transmission, wherein the resonator has at least a partially conductive first portion. 135. The electric system according to paragraph 134, wherein the electric system further comprises a rechargeable battery and the power load comprises an electric motor. 136. The electric system according to paragraph 135, wherein the electric system is an electric vehicle, and the mechanical load support structure comprises the chassis of the electric vehicle. 137. The electric system according to paragraph 134, wherein the electric system is a display monitor, and the mechanical load support structure is at least one of the frame and base of the display monitor. 138. The electric system described in paragraph 134, further comprising a power supply. 139. The electric power system according to paragraph 138, comprising: a radio frequency power amplifier, which is in wired telecommunication with the power supply and configured to convert a DC voltage from the power supply into an AC voltage signal having an oscillating frequency; an adjustable phase radio frequency rectifier, which is in wired electrical contact with a power load and is in radio frequency communication with the power amplifier; a rectifier configured to receive power transmitted from the power amplifier; and a receiver controller, which is in communication with the rectifier and configured to adjust the efficiency of power transmission from the power amplifier to the rectifier by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier. 140. In one current preferred embodiment, the present invention provides an apparatus comprising a mechanical load support structure having a first conductive portion, a power supply, a power load, and a power transmission system, the power transmission system comprising a radio frequency power amplifier in wired telecommunication with the power supply and configured to convert a DC voltage from the power supply into an AC voltage signal having an oscillating frequency, a tuned phase radio frequency rectifier in wired electrical contact with the power load and in radio frequency communication with the power amplifier, a rectifier configured to receive power transmitted from the power amplifier, and a receiver controller in communication with the rectifier, configured to adjust the efficiency of power transmission from the power amplifier to the rectifier by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the rectifier, wherein the conductive first portion is arranged to carry at least one radio frequency signal from the power amplifier and to the rectifier. 141. The apparatus according to paragraph 140, further comprising a load management system in wired communication with the power load, and a power signal placed between the power load and the rectifier, wherein the load management system is configured to increase the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier. 142. The apparatus according to paragraph 140, further comprising a transmitter controller in communication with the power amplifier, wherein the transmitter controller is configured to increase the efficiency of power transmission by adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier. 143. The apparatus according to paragraph 140, further comprising an oscillator in communication with the power amplifier and the transmitter controller, wherein the transmitter controller is configured to adjust the oscillation frequency by the oscillator. 144. The apparatus according to paragraph 140, wherein the power amplifier is in direct wired radio frequency communication with a rectifier via a first conductive portion. 145. The apparatus according to paragraph 140, wherein the power amplifier is in a state of wireless near-field radio frequency communication with the rectifier. 146. The apparatus according to paragraph 140, wherein the power transmission system comprises the power amplifier and a transmitter resonator in a wired radio frequency communication state, and the rectifier and a receiver resonator in a wired radio frequency communication state, and one of the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator comprises the first part which is conductive. 147. The apparatus according to paragraph 146, wherein the transmitter resonator and the receiver resonator are in a state of wireless near-field radio frequency communication with each other. 148. The apparatus according to paragraph 140, wherein the power amplifier is in communication with the rectifier in at least one of capacitive near-field wireless radio frequency communication and inductive near-field wireless radio frequency communication. 149. The apparatus described in paragraph 140, wherein the power amplifier is in a state of two-way near-field wireless radio frequency communication with the rectifier. 150. The apparatus according to paragraph 140, wherein the DC power supply comprises a rechargeable battery and the power load comprises an electric motor.

[0287] Many exemplary embodiments and designs have been described above, but those skilled in the art will recognize specific modifications, permutations, additions, and sub-combinations. Therefore, the appended claims below and the claims presented hereafter are intended to be interpreted to include all modifications, permutations, additions, and sub-combinations consistent with the broadest interpretation of this specification. Interpretation of Terms

[0288] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following terms will be used throughout this specification and the claims.

[0289] Terms like "comprise" and "comprising" are interpreted in a comprehensive sense, the opposite of an exclusive or exhaustive meaning. In other words, they are interpreted as "not limited, but including."

[0290] "Coupled" or any variation thereof means any direct or indirect connection or joining between two or more elements, the joining or joining between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof, and elements that form a single unit may be considered connected or joined.

[0291] "Wired," "via a wired connection," or variations thereof, means any physical connection via a conductive medium, intermediate circuit, or other means that allows current to flow between, through, or across components of a system.

[0292] "Electrical communication," "electrical communication," or any variation thereof means any communication, coupling, interface, or other means suitable for the transmission of electrical signals between or across components of a system, whether hardwired, wireless, or a combination thereof.

[0293] When used to describe this specification, the terms "this specification," "above," "below," and similar terms refer to this specification as a whole, and not to any specific part thereof.

[0294] When "or" refers to a list of two or more items, the word can be interpreted as encompassing any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, or any combination of the items in the list.

[0295] The singular forms "a," "an," and "the" also include the meaning of any appropriate plural form.

[0296] The terms indicating direction, such as “vertical,” “lateral,” “horizontal,” “upward,” “downward,” “forward,” “backward,” “inward,” “outward,” “vertical,” “lateral,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” and “down,” when used herein and in any appended claims (if any), depend on the specific orientation of the described and illustrated apparatus. The subject matter described herein may assume a variety of alternative orientations. Therefore, these directional terms are not strictly defined and should not be interpreted narrowly.

[0297] Embodiments of the present invention include various operations described herein. These operations may be performed by hardware components, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

[0298] Certain embodiments may be implemented as computer program products that may include instructions stored on a machine-readable medium. These instructions may be used to program a general-purpose or dedicated processor to perform the operations described. The machine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing information in a form that can be read by a machine (e.g., a computer) (e.g., software or processing applications). The machine-readable medium includes, but is not limited to, magnetic storage media (e.g., floppy disks); optical storage media (e.g., CD-ROMs); magneto-optical storage media; read-only memory (ROM); random-access memory (RAM); erasable programmable memory (e.g., EPROMs and EEPROMs); flash memory; or other types of media suitable for storing electronic instructions.

[0299] In addition, some embodiments may be implemented in a distributed computing environment in which machine-readable media are stored in and / or run by one or more computer systems. Furthermore, information transmitted between computer systems may be accessed via communication media connecting the computer systems.

[0300] The computer processing components used in implementing various embodiments of the present invention include one or more general-purpose processing units, such as a microprocessor or central processing unit, a controller, a Graphical Processing Unit (GPU), or a cell computer. Alternatively, such digital processing components may include one or more special-purpose processing devices, such as a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). In certain embodiments, for example, the digital processing unit may be a network processor having multiple processors, including a core unit and multiple microengines. Furthermore, the digital processing unit may include any combination of general-purpose and special-purpose processing units.

[0301] Although the operations of the methods described herein are shown and described in a specific order, the order of operations of each method may be modified so that certain operations are performed in reverse order, or so that certain operations are performed at least partially concurrently with other operations. In other embodiments, instructions for different operations or sub-operations may be performed intermittently and / or alternately.

[0302] Where components (e.g., software modules, processors, assemblies, devices, circuits, etc.) are referred to above, unless otherwise specified, references to such components (including references to “means”) should be interpreted as including any components that perform the function of the described component (i.e., are functionally equivalent), including components that are not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structures that perform the function of the illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0303] For illustrative purposes, specific examples of systems, methods, and apparatus have been described herein. These are merely illustrative. The technologies provided herein are applicable to systems other than those exemplified above. Within the scope of the invention, many changes, modifications, additions, omissions, and rearrangements are possible. The invention includes variations of the described embodiments that will be apparent to those skilled in the art, including variations obtained by replacing features, elements, and / or actions with equivalent features, elements, and / or actions; mixing and combining features, elements, and / or actions from different embodiments; combining features, elements, and / or actions from embodiments described herein with features, elements, and / or actions from other technologies; and / or omitting combinations of features, elements, and / or actions from the described embodiments.

Claims

1. A method of power transmission from a DC power source to a power load, A step of providing a power transmission system that is in a wired telecommunication state with the power supply, wherein the power transmission system comprises a radio frequency rectifier that is in wired electrical contact state with the power load and a radio frequency power amplifier that is in a radio frequency communication state. The power amplifier includes a step of converting power from the DC power supply into a radio frequency vibration power signal, The rectifier comprises the step of converting the radio frequency vibration power signal into a DC power signal, The process includes adjusting the power transmission efficiency by adjusting the current-voltage phase difference of the frequency-oscillating power signal, The step of providing the power transmission system includes the step of providing a resonator having a Q value that allows the frequency oscillating power signal to change freely within a predetermined range in the power transmission system. method.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the DC power supply includes at least one solar cell.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting the power transmission efficiency by automatically adjusting the DC equivalent input resistance of the power amplifier.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically adjusting the power transmission efficiency by automatically adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting the power transmission efficiency by changing the vibration frequency of the power amplifier.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing the power transmission system includes providing a power amplifier that is in direct wired radio frequency communication state with the radio frequency rectifier.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing the power transmission system includes the step of providing the radio frequency rectifier and a power amplifier in a wireless near-field radio frequency communication state.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing the power transmission system includes providing the rectifier and a power amplifier in a two-way near-field wireless communication state.

9. A power transmission system for supplying power from a DC power source to a power load, A wireless frequency power amplifier configured to be in a DC and wired telecommunication state and to convert the DC voltage from the power supply into an AC voltage signal having an oscillating frequency, A radio frequency rectifier that is in wired electrical contact with the power load and in radio frequency communication with the power amplifier, wherein the rectifier is configured to receive power transmitted from the power amplifier, A receiver controller in communication with the rectifier, configured to automatically adjust the efficiency of power transmission from the power amplifier to the rectifier by adjusting the current-voltage phase difference of the frequency oscillating power signal. Equipped with, The power transmission system includes a resonator having a Q value that allows the frequency oscillating power signal to change freely within a predetermined range. Power transmission system.

10. The power transmission system according to claim 9, further comprising a load management system which is in wired communication with the power load and is positioned in the power signal direction between the power load and the rectifier, wherein the load management system is configured to increase the efficiency of power transmission by automatically adjusting the input impedance of the rectifier.

11. The power transmission system according to claim 9, further comprising a transmitter controller in communication with the power amplifier, wherein the transmitter controller is configured to increase the efficiency of power transmission by automatically adjusting the current-voltage phase characteristics of the power amplifier.

12. The power transmission system according to claim 11, further comprising an oscillator in communication with the power amplifier and the transmitter controller, wherein the transmitter controller is configured to adjust the vibration frequency by the oscillator.

13. The power transmission system according to claim 9, wherein the power amplifier is in direct wired wireless frequency communication with the rectifier.

14. The power transmission system according to claim 9, wherein the power amplifier is in wireless near-field radio frequency communication with the rectifier.

15. The power transmission system according to claim 9, wherein the power amplifier is in a state of two-way near-field wireless radio frequency communication with the rectifier.

16. The power transmission system according to claim 9, wherein the DC power supply comprises a rechargeable battery and the power load comprises an electric motor.

17. The power transmission system according to claim 9, wherein the resonant structure of the system comprises at least one conductive mechanical load support structure component of the system.

18. The power transmission system according to claim 9, further comprising a power adjustment unit electrically positioned between the power supply and the power amplifier, wherein the power adjustment unit is configured to adjust at least one of the current and voltage from the power supply in order to improve the efficiency of power transmission.

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