Miniaturized Antenna Array for Wireless Power Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless charging systems for small electronic devices face inefficiencies due to the physical limitations of tiny form factors, where electrically small antennas require additional lossy matching components to achieve resonance, leading to reduced power transfer efficiency and limited beamforming capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A wireless power receiving system utilizing two or more electrically small antennas placed in proximity to share a ground plane, achieving self-resonance and heavy mutual coupling to enhance efficiency, gain, and bandwidth without the need for lossy matching components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If electrically small antennas are used in tiny form factor devices, then device size is reduced, but power transfer efficiency deteriorates due to low radiation resistance and need for lossy matching components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidpower transfer efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple electrically small antennas into a closely spaced array configuration. By merging the antennas in close proximity, the system achieves collective resonance and mutual coupling effects that enhance the overall radiation resistance and power transfer efficiency without requiring lossy matching components, thus resolving the contradiction between small device size and power transfer efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes resonance phenomena by tuning multiple antennas to the same resonant frequency. This resonance effect amplifies the electromagnetic response of the electrically small antennas, enabling efficient power transfer despite their small physical dimensions, thereby overcoming the efficiency limitations of individual small antennas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Reliability

If additional matching components are added to electrically small antennas to achieve resonance, then antenna resonance is improved, but system complexity and energy loss increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna resonanceVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the antenna array to achieve resonance through self-organization and mutual coupling among the antennas. The closely spaced antennas automatically interact and tune to the same resonant frequency without requiring external matching components, thus achieving reliable resonance while minimizing system complexity and avoiding lossy components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Volume of moving object

If conventional single antennas are used in small devices, then device form factor is maintained, but beamforming and power distribution capabilities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice form factorVSAvoidbeamforming capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the antenna system into multiple electrically small antenna elements arranged in a closely spaced array. This segmentation allows each element to contribute to the overall beamforming capability, enabling the small device to achieve directional control and power distribution versatility that would be impossible with a single conventional antenna

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 system effectively increases the power reception efficiency and coverage area by creating self-resonance and mutual coupling between antennas, improving the overall performance of wireless charging in small form factor devices.

Implementation Method 1

loading the two or more antenna arms with each other to create self-resonance at the frequency of the transmitted wireless power wave

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSelf-resonance: Resonance

Implementation Method 2

the two or more antenna arms are close enough to have strong coupling effect at a frequency of a transmitted wireless power wave

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMutual coupling:

Data Source

PatentUS11539243B2Systems and methods for miniaturized antenna for wireless power transmissions

Publication Date: 2022.12.27 ENERGOUS CORP

AI summary

A wireless power receiving system includes two or more electrically small antenna arms and a common antenna ground. The two or more electrically small antenna arms are connected to the same common antenna ground and are close enough to one another to be strongly coupled. In some embodiments, the two or more electrically small antenna arms are tuned to the same functional frequency so that they load one another to create self-resonance. The wireless power receiving system receives the transmitted wireless power wave emitting from a wireless power transmitter without added lossy matching components.