Metamaterial Dual-Function Loop Antenna for Compact Wireless Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication electronic devices face challenges in achieving a small form factor for both wireless power transfer (WPT) coils and communication antennas while maintaining energy efficiency, with previous metamaterial slabs being too large for integration and lacking dual-band functionality.
Innovation Solution
A metamaterial-inspired dual-function loop antenna is designed with a metamaterial slab integrated on top of a single-turn loop antenna, featuring negative and near zero refractive indices for 6.78 MHz and 2.4 GHz frequencies, enhancing power transfer efficiency and antenna gain through electromagnetic wave focusing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a metamaterial slab is integrated on top of a single-turn loop antenna to enhance power transfer efficiency and antenna gain, then WPT efficiency and antenna gain are improved, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a metamaterial slab with composite structure consisting of metallic patterns on dielectric substrates, creating materials with negative and near-zero refractive indices. This composite material approach enables simultaneous enhancement of power transfer efficiency and antenna gain while maintaining a compact form factor, as the metamaterial properties are achieved through geometric design rather than bulk material properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes frequency-dependent parameter changes of the metamaterial slab, where the effective refractive index transitions from negative at 6.78 MHz to near-zero at 2.4 GHz. This parameter change with frequency allows the same structure to serve dual functions at different frequencies, improving both WPT efficiency at lower frequencies and antenna gain at higher frequencies without requiring separate structures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate WPT coil and communication antenna are used to maintain functionality, then dual-band functionality is achieved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves multi-functionality by integrating a metamaterial slab with a single-turn loop antenna, creating a unified structure that performs both wireless power transfer at 6.78 MHz and wireless communication at 2.4 GHz. The metamaterial slab's frequency-dependent electromagnetic properties enable it to enhance both functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate coils and antennas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the WPT coil and communication antenna into a single integrated structure where the loop antenna serves as the WPT coil and the metamaterial slab enhances both functions. This merging reduces the overall device volume by consolidating multiple functional elements into one compact unit while maintaining dual-band operation through the metamaterial's frequency-selective properties.
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
The solution achieves a 50% size reduction, a 28.07% WPT efficiency improvement, and a 1.89 dB gain improvement, enabling efficient wireless power transfer and communication across multiple frequency bands.
Implementation Method 1
A metamaterial-inspired dual-function loop antenna is designed with a metamaterial slab integrated on top of a single-turn loop antenna, featuring negative and near zero refractive indices for 6.78 MHz and 2.4 GHz frequencies, enhancing power transfer efficiency and antenna gain through electromagnetic wave focusing.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes various embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods of fabricating a metamaterial-inspired dual-function loop antenna. One such antenna device comprises a loop antenna and a metamaterial slab integrated on top of the loop antenna. Accordingly, the metamaterial slab metamaterial has a negative refractive index value at a first frequency and a near zero refractive index at a second frequency, wherein the first frequency is less than the second frequency, each unit cell of the metamaterial slab is coupled to a capacitor in parallel, the first frequency is attributed to a capacitance value of the capacitor, and the second frequency is attributed to a dimension of the unit cell. As such, the antenna device is configured to receive wireless power transfer signals over the first frequency and wireless communication signals over the second frequency. Other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also presented.