Holographic Aperture Antenna for Selectable RF Fields

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless power transmission technologies face challenges in efficiently transferring radiofrequency electromagnetic power to target devices while minimizing exposure to humans and optimizing radiation patterns within complex environments.

Innovation Solution

A sub-Nyquist complex-holographic aperture is used to define selectable, arbitrary complex radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on a surface, allowing for coherent reconstruction and transmission of radiofrequency waves, enabling efficient power transfer while adhering to radiation exposure limits and optimizing pathways.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional wireless power transmission is used, then power can be transmitted to target devices, but radiation exposure to humans increases and power transfer efficiency decreases in complex environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transfer efficiencyVSAvoidradiation exposure to humans
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating highly directional, localized electromagnetic fields that concentrate power transmission only in specific directions toward target devices. The holographic aperture enables different regions of the aperture to generate fields with specific spatial characteristics, allowing power to be delivered locally to intended recipients while minimizing radiation in directions where humans or other devices are present. This spatially selective field generation resolves the contradiction by improving power transfer efficiency to targets while reducing harmful exposure to bystanders.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the amplitude and phase of electromagnetic fields across the holographic aperture elements. By controlling these parameters, the system can shape radiation patterns to maximize power delivery to target devices while minimizing exposure in other directions. The ability to independently control field parameters at each aperture element enables optimization of both power transfer efficiency and radiation safety simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional antenna arrays are used, then wireless communication is achieved, but beamforming capability and radiation pattern optimization are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradiation pattern optimizationVSAvoidaperture element spacing requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from conventional one-dimensional linear antenna arrays to two-dimensional holographic aperture arrays. This additional spatial dimension enables much greater flexibility in shaping radiation patterns and achieving arbitrary field distributions. The 2D aperture geometry provides more degrees of freedom for beamforming, allowing independent control of field amplitude and phase in multiple directions simultaneously, thereby greatly enhancing adaptability for various communication and power transmission scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by enabling real-time, electronic reconfiguration of the holographic aperture's field-generating characteristics. Each aperture element can independently and dynamically adjust its amplitude and phase parameters, allowing the radiation pattern to be adaptively optimized for different target locations, environments, and operational requirements. This dynamic control capability provides versatile beamforming without requiring physical reconfiguration or increasing element density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This approach enables efficient wireless power transfer to target devices while minimizing exposure to humans and optimizing radiation patterns, ensuring compliance with exposure limits and maximizing power delivery within radiateable spaces.

Implementation Method 1

transmitting radiofrequency electromagnetic waves coherently reconstructed from the incident radiofrequency electromagnetic waves by the selected arbitrary complex radiofrequency electromagnetic field

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCoherent reconstruction: Interference

Implementation Method 2

sub-Nyquist complex-holographic aperture configured to define at least two selectable, arbitrary complex radiofrequency electromagnetic fields

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHolography: Diffraction

Implementation Method 3

Each electromagnetic wave scattering element having a respective electronically controllable electromagnetic response to an incident radiofrequency electromagnetic wave

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic scattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentUS10236574B2Holographic aperture antenna configured to define selectable, arbitrary complex electromagnetic fields
Publication Date: 2019.03.19 METAVC PATENT HOLDING CO
  • US10236574B2 patent drawing
  • US10236574B2 patent drawing
  • US10236574B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Described embodiments include an antenna and a method. In an embodiment, the antenna includes a holographic aperture having a surface including a plurality of individual electromagnetic wave scattering elements distributed thereon with a periodic inter-element spacing equal to or less than one-half of a free space wavelength of an operating frequency of the antenna. The aperture is configured to define at least two selectable complex radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on the surface with tangential wavenumbers up to 2π over the aperture element spacing (k_apt=2π/a). In an embodiment, the holographic aperture includes an amplitude and phase modulation holographic aperture. In an embodiment, each electromagnetic wave scattering element has a respective electronically controllable electromagnetic response to an incident radiofrequency electromagnetic wave, and the plurality of individual electromagnetic wave scattering elements are electronically controllable in combination to define the at least two selectable complex radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on the surface.