Systems and methods for wireless power transmission

The present disclosure describes a methodology for wireless power transmission based on pocket-forming. This methodology may include one transmitter and at least one or more receivers, being the transmitter the source of energy and the receiver the device that is desired to charge or power. The transmitter may identify and locate the device to which the receiver is connected and thereafter aim pockets of energy to the device in order to power it. Pockets of energy may be generated through constructive and destructive interferences, which may create null-spaces and spots of pockets of energy ranged into one or more radii from transmitter. Such feature may enable wireless power transmission through a selective range, which may limit operation area of electronic devices and/or may avoid formation of pockets of energy near and/or over certain areas, objects and people.

Wireless power transmission with selective range

A method for controlling communication between wireless power transmitter managers is disclosed. According to some aspects of this embodiment, wireless power transmission system may include one or more wireless power transmitter managers and one or more wireless power receivers for powering various customer devices. A WiFi connection may be established between wireless power transmitter managers to share information between system devices. Wireless power transmitter manager may need to fulfill two conditions to control power transfer over a customer device; customer device's signal strength threshold has to be significantly greater than 50%, such as 55% or more of the signal strength measured by all other wireless power transmitter managers and has to remain significantly greater than 50% for a minimum amount of time.

System and method for controlling communication between wireless power transmitter managers

The present invention may provide various electric receiver arrangements which may be used to provide wireless power transmission using suitable power transmission techniques such as pocket-forming. In some embodiments, receivers may include at least one antenna connected to at least one rectifier and one power converter. In other embodiments, receivers including a plurality of antennas, a plurality of rectifiers or a plurality of power converters may be provided. In addition, receivers may include communications components which may allow for communication to various electronic equipment including transmitters, phones, computers and others. Lastly, various implementation arrangements may be provided for including receivers in electronic devices.

Receivers for Wireless Power Transmission

Configurations and methods of wireless power transmission for charging or powering one or more electronic devices inside a vehicle are disclosed. A transmitter capable of single or multiple pocket-forming may be connected to a car lighter, where this transmitter may include a circuitry module and an antenna array integrated within the transmitter, or operatively connected through a cable. This cable may allow the positioning of the antenna array in different locations inside the vehicle suitable for directing RF waves or pockets of energy towards one or more electronic devices. Transmitter's configuration can be accessed by one or more electronic devices through Bluetooth communication in order to set up charging or powering priorities.

Wireless charging and powering of electronic devices in a vehicle

An antenna assembly includes: an antenna including: a metal signal layer having a radiating surface; and a feed port; and a waveguide surrounding the antenna and configured to guide electromagnetic energy transmitted from the radiating surface in a direction away from the antenna; and a controller module connected to the feed port and configured to drive the antenna to transmit electromagnetic energy from the radiating surface; wherein the antenna, waveguide, and controller module are configured such that, when the controller module drives the antenna, the transmitted electromagnetic energy matches a reception characteristic of an implantable device and is sufficient for the implantable device to create one or more electrical pulses of sufficient amplitude to stimulate neural tissue of a patient, solely using electromagnetic energy received from the antenna, when the implantable device is located at least 10 centimeters away from the antenna.

Remote rf power system with low profile transmitting antenna

A patch antenna assembly that includes a signal metal layer configured to emit linearly polarized electromagnetic energy to a receiving antenna implanted up to 12 cm underneath a subject's skin; a signal metal layer substrate on which the signal metal layer substrate is positioned; a ground plane located next to the signal metal layer substrate and further away from the subject's skin; a microstrip and capacitance adjustment pad metal layer substrate located next to the ground plane; and a microstrip and capacitance adjustment pad metal layer next to the microstrip and capacitance adjustment pad metal layer substrate, the microstrip and capacitance adjustment pad metal layer comprising: a capacitance adjustment pad configured to adjust a resonant frequency of the patch antenna assembly; and a microstrip attached to the capacitance adjustment pad and configured to induce the emitted electromagnetic energy to be linearly polarized along a longitudinal direction of the microstrip.

Patch antenna assembly

A passive implantable relay module includes a first coupler arm configured to wirelessly receive electromagnetic energy radiated through electric radiative coupling from a transmitting antenna located outside a subject's body; a second coupler arm; and a connector portion comprising a first metal core and a first dielectric coating surrounding the first metal core, the connector portion configured to connect the first coupler arm to the second coupler arm such that when the passive implantable relay module is implanted inside the subject's body and the transmitting antenna initiates wireless energy transfer to the first coupler arm via non-inductive coupling, electromagnetic waves carrying the electromagnetic energy received at the first coupler arm propagate along the first metal core to arrive at the second coupler arm, where the electromagnetic energy arriving is wirelessly transferred, again via non-inductive coupling, to a receiving antenna on a passive wireless neural stimulator device.

Implantable relay module

An antenna assembly includes a metal layer configured to emit linearly polarized electromagnetic energy to a receiving antenna implanted underneath a subject's skin; and a feed port configured to connect the antenna assembly to a signal generator such that the antenna assembly receives an input signal from the signal generator and then transmits the input signal to the receiving dipole antenna, wherein the antenna assembly is less than 200 um in thickness, and wherein the metal layer is operable as a dipole antenna with a reflection ratio of at least 6 dB, the reflection ratio corresponding to a ratio of a transmission power of the antenna assembly in transmitting the input signal and a reflection power seen by the antenna assembly resulting from electromagnetic emission of the input signal.

Richard Lebaron

Papers

Remote rf power system with low profile transmitting antenna

Patch antenna assembly

Implantable relay module

Antenna assembly for supplying power to an implantable neural stimulator device

An implantable relay module