PIFA Antennas Integrated with AMC Metamaterials for Focused Wireless Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless power transmission technologies face challenges in integrating a high number of directional antennas in compact form factors while maintaining performance, as omnidirectional radiation patterns from Planar Inverted-F Antennas (PIFA) waste power and hinder focused energy delivery.
Innovation Solution
The integration of Planar Inverted-F Antennas (PIFA) with artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) metamaterials on multi-layer printed circuit boards forms compact, directional antenna structures that allow for independent feeding and control, enhancing pocket-forming capabilities and reducing size while maintaining impedance bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If Planar Inverted-F Antennas (PIFA) are used for compact form factor, then antenna size is reduced, but radiation pattern becomes omnidirectional causing power waste and hindering focused energy delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines PIFA structure with artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) metamaterials to create a composite antenna system. The AMC layer with sub-wavelength resonant structures transforms the omnidirectional PIFA radiation into a directional pattern, achieving both compact size and focused energy transmission. This composite structure allows the antenna to maintain small form factor while eliminating the energy waste associated with omnidirectional radiation.
2Power
If more antennas are integrated in the array, then power transmission range and capability increase, but antenna array size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the radiation characteristics parameter of individual antennas by integrating AMC metamaterials, transforming omnidirectional patterns into directional ones. This parameter change allows for more efficient spatial utilization of the antenna array, enabling higher power transmission capability within a smaller physical area since each antenna focuses energy more effectively rather than radiating in all directions.
3Loss of energy
If directional antennas are used to focus energy, then power transmission efficiency improves, but antenna integration density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds the AMC metamaterial structures within the PIFA antenna body, creating a nested configuration where the artificial magnetic conductor elements are integrated into the antenna's ground plane and radiating structure. This nesting approach allows directional functionality to be achieved without increasing the overall antenna footprint, thereby maintaining high integration density while improving transmission efficiency through focused directional radiation.
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 solution enables the integration of a higher number of antennas in compact transmitters, achieving enhanced control over pocket-forming and directional radiation patterns, leading to more efficient wireless power transmission with focused energy delivery.
Implementation Method 1
integrated antenna structures may include a PIFA integrated with artificial magnetic conductors (AMC) metamaterials formed on multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB)
Implementation Method 2
Amplitude and phase among other properties of the transmitted RF waves may be tuned by the computer hardware and software to form constructive and destructive interference patterns generating pockets of energy in a 3-dimensional shape from the constructive patterns
Data Source
AI summary
A plurality of integrated antenna structures may be formed in flat panel antenna arrays which may be arranged in equally spaced grid and may be used in transmitters for sending focused RF waves towards a receiver for wireless power charging or powering. Each of the integrated antenna structures may include PIFAs integrated with AMC metamaterials. As a result of their high directionality and form factor, the integrated antenna structures may be placed very close together, thus enabling the integration of a high number of integrated antenna structures in a single flat panel antenna array which may fit about 400+ integrated antenna structures. Each integrated antenna structure in the flat panel antenna arrays may be operated independently, thus enabling an enhanced control over the pocket forming. In addition, the higher number of integrated antenna structures may contribute to a higher gain for the flat panel antenna arrays.