Array Antenna Phase Alignment for Short-Range Power Beaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
When a wireless power receiver on an airplane is close to a wireless power transmitter, the phase shifts between multiple antenna elements become significant, leading to reduced power reception and potential signal discontinuities due to mismatched phases.
Innovation Solution
An antenna device with a bidimensional array of antenna elements, a phase adjuster, an image acquiring unit, and a controller that adjusts phases using phase data to match reception phases, and performs power ramping to stabilize power transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple antenna elements transmit power to a close target, then power transmission capability is improved, but phase shift difference increases causing reduced power reception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the phase of transmission power signals based on the distance to the power receiver. When the receiver is close, the system increases phase shift amounts to compensate for the large path difference between antenna elements, ensuring coherent power reception. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting phase parameters to the specific transmission distance condition.
2Reliability
If phases of transmission power signals are adjusted to match reception phases, then power reception efficiency is improved, but phase discontinuity occurs generating high frequency components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by gradually changing phase shifts over multiple transmission cycles rather than making abrupt changes. The system increases phase shift amounts incrementally across periods, allowing the transmission system to adapt to new phase configurations smoothly. This periodic, gradual adjustment eliminates phase discontinuities and prevents generation of harmful high frequency components while maintaining improved power reception efficiency.
3Reliability
If phase shift amount is increased for close distance transmission, then power reception efficiency is improved, but signal stability deteriorates due to phase discontinuity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the phase shift amount variable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts phase shift amounts based on the measured distance to the power receiver, using larger phase shifts for close distances and smaller phase shifts for far distances. This dynamic adaptation maintains signal stability while optimizing power reception efficiency for each specific transmission scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic action to gradually implement phase shift changes over multiple transmission cycles. By incrementally adjusting phase shifts rather than making abrupt changes, the system maintains signal stability during transitions while still achieving the necessary phase alignment for efficient power reception at close distances.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Stable power transmission is achieved by aligning phases of transmission signals from multiple antenna elements, ensuring efficient power reception even at short distances.
Implementation Method 1
an array antenna 110 including multiple antenna elements 111... transmission power signals that are respectively supplied by the multiple antenna elements
Implementation Method 2
a phase adjuster configured to adjust phases of transmission power signals that are respectively supplied by the multiple antenna elements
Implementation Method 3
a power ramping unit configured to perform power ramping on at least one given transmission power signal among the transmission power signals, in a case where the phase adjuster adjusts the phases of the transmission power signals
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna device includes circuitry to acquire, based on a second position, an elevation angle of a projected position that is obtained by projecting a first position onto a second plane including a first axis and a third axis, the elevation angle being relative to the third axis of the second plane. The circuitry controls a phase adjuster such that a direction of a beam defines the elevation angle for the second plane, based on phase data that is retrieved according to acquired elevation angle, and performs power ramping on at least one given transmission power signal.