Human Body Power Transmitter With Capacitive Ground Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies for powering devices attached to the human body are inefficient in supplying power through the body, limiting the widespread adoption of wearable devices.
Innovation Solution
A power transmitter system that includes an antenna unit with a first conductor in contact with the human body and a second conductor capacitively coupled to the earth ground, allowing for efficient alternating current power transmission via the human body, along with a signal generation circuit to apply an AC power signal between the conductors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the antenna terminal contacts the human body to enable the body to act as a virtual antenna, then power can be supplied via the human body, but power is lost to the earth ground through the human body connection
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is segmented into two separate conductors: a first antenna conductor that contacts the human body and a second antenna conductor that is capacitively coupled to earth ground. This segmentation allows the system to utilize the human body as a transmission medium while preventing direct power loss to ground, as the body-contacting conductor is electrically isolated from ground through the body's natural insulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The human body acts as an intermediary medium for power transmission between the first antenna conductor and the second antenna conductor. By using the body's capacitance and impedance characteristics as a mediator, the system can transfer power efficiently without requiring direct ground connection at the body contact point, thus avoiding power loss to ground.
2Device complexity
If a simple antenna terminal is used for human body contact, then the device structure is simple, but power transmission efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is divided into two functional conductors with distinct roles: one for body contact and one for ground coupling. This segmentation enables optimized power transmission through the body's natural electrical characteristics while maintaining relatively simple device structure, as each conductor can be designed independently for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the electrical parameters (capacitance, impedance) of the human body as inherent transmission characteristics. By designing the antenna conductors to match these body parameters rather than forcing standard 50-ohm impedance matching, the system achieves efficient power transmission without complex matching networks, thereby maintaining structural simplicity.
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
Enables efficient power supply to devices via the human body, preventing power loss to the earth ground and allowing for widespread use of wearable devices.
Implementation Method 1
a second antenna conductor that is capacitively coupled to the ground of the earth without being brought into contact with the human body
Data Source
AI summary
A power transmitter according to an embodiment of the present technology includes an antenna unit and a signal generation circuit. The antenna unit includes a first antenna conductor used in contact with a human body unconnected to ground of earth, and a second antenna conductor that is capacitively coupled to the ground of the earth without being brought into contact with the human body. The signal generation circuit applies an alternating current power signal between the first antenna conductor and the second antenna conductor.