Surface Waveguide Coupling for Flexible Wireless Power Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless power transfer methods, such as inductive coupling and magnetic resonance, face challenges with alignment sensitivity, size limitations, and low efficiency, while conventional wireless communication technologies are vulnerable to snooping and position-dependent performance, especially in applications requiring short-range, high-capacity connections.
Innovation Solution
A surface waveguide system that uses a treated two-dimensional conductive surface to propagate electromagnetic waves, with mode converters to couple energy or signals efficiently, maintaining low insertion loss and varying surface reactance to enhance energy transfer and communication capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If inductive coupling is used for wireless power transfer, then energy transfer is achieved, but alignment sensitivity and size limitations worsen performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from three-dimensional radiative electromagnetic waves to two-dimensional surface-bound waves. By confining energy transfer to the surface of a waveguide, the system eliminates the need for precise three-dimensional alignment between transmitter and receiver, as the surface wave naturally guides energy along the interface regardless of minor positional variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface waveguide acts as an intermediary medium between the power source and the receiving device. Instead of direct coupling between transmitter and receiver coils, the waveguide surface serves as a mediator that channels electromagnetic energy from the source to the target, decoupling the alignment requirements between the two components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If magnetic resonance coupling is used to improve position flexibility, then alignment tolerance increases, but coil size and overlapping complexity worsen device design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the alignment-sensitivity problem from the wireless power transfer system by separating the power transfer function from direct coil-to-coil coupling. The surface waveguide extracts and carries the electromagnetic energy independently, allowing the transmitting and receiving coils to be positioned more freely without requiring precise overlapping or alignment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If RF energy harvesting with phased array is used for far mobility, then device mobility increases, but energy transfer amount and efficiency decrease significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent confines electromagnetic energy to two-dimensional surface propagation rather than allowing three-dimensional radiative spread. This dimensional confinement prevents energy from dispersing in all directions, maintaining higher energy density along the surface path and enabling efficient power transfer over moderate distances with improved mobility.
4Duration of action of moving object
If conventional wide area wireless communication is used for short range connection, then communication range is sufficient, but security and privacy worsen due to radiative signals traveling in all directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions wireless communication from three-dimensional radiative propagation to two-dimensional surface-bound transmission. Surface waves naturally remain confined to the waveguide surface, creating a secure communication channel that does not radiate signals outward, thereby preventing eavesdropping while maintaining communication capability.
5Power
If device antenna gain is increased to focus energy in desired direction, then signal strength in target direction improves, but position flexibility of components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The surface waveguide serves as an intermediary that carries electromagnetic energy between components. Instead of relying on high-gain directional antennas to focus energy through precise aiming, the waveguide mediates the energy transfer, allowing components to be positioned more freely while maintaining signal strength through the guided surface wave.
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 achieves efficient energy transfer and communication with reduced radiation and position flexibility, while maintaining low insertion loss, addressing the limitations of existing technologies by using a surface waveguide with treated conductive surfaces and mode converters to support electromagnetic wave propagation.
Implementation Method 1
the surface waveguide supports propagation of electro-magnetic waves over a two-dimensional conductive surface
Implementation Method 2
a first mode converter operative to couple electro-magnetic waves of a first mode to the two-dimensional conductive surface having a second mode
Implementation Method 3
the two-dimensional conductive surface is treated to increase a surface reactance (relative to untreated) of the two-dimensional conductive surface over a frequency range of the electro-magnetic waves, while maintaining an insertion loss of the surface waveguide below a threshold
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, methods, and systems for a surface wave based wireless connection to an electronic device are disclosed. One apparatus includes a surface wave guide that supports propagation of electro-magnetic waves over a two-dimensional conductive surface of the surface waveguide, wherein the two-dimensional conductive surface is treated to increase a surface reactance of the two-dimensional conductive surface over a frequency range of the electro-magnetic waves, while maintaining an insertion loss of the surface waveguide below a threshold. A first mode converter operates to couple electro-magnetic waves of a first mode to the two-dimensional conductive surface having a second mode, wherein the electro-magnetic waves of the second mode propagate across the two-dimensional conductive surface of the surface waveguide. At least a portion of the electro-magnetic waves of the two-dimensional conductive surface is coupled to an electronic device through a second mode converter of the electronic device.