Short Range Efficient Wireless Power Transfer

Abstract

A device is powered wirelessly using magnetically coupled resonance, either from a short distance, e.g., on a surface, or from or on a longer distance.

1 . A system comprising:
 a magnetically coupled resonance system, that includes a first surface against which devices to be provided with power are located, and providing power at a first efficiency of power transfer to said devices on said first surface, and providing power at a second efficiency of power transfer, lower than said first efficiency, to other devices that are not on said first surface, each of said devices receiving said power using magnetically coupled resonance between a transmitting antenna adjacent said first surface, and a receiving antenna in at least one device.   
   
   
       2 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said system is tuned for maximum efficiency on said first surface. 
   
   
       3 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said transmitting antenna is tuned for a thickness of a material of said first surface. 
   
   
       4 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said devices which are not on said first surface are inches away from said first surface. 
   
   
       5 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said devices which are not on said first surface are feet away from said first surface. 
   
   
       6 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said first surface is integrated into a desktop component. 
   
   
       7 . A system as in  claim 6 , wherein said desktop component is a base of a monitor. 
   
   
       8 . A system as in  claim 6 , wherein said desktop component is a base of a lamp. 
   
   
       9 . A system as in  claim 6 , wherein said desktop component is a base of a telephone charger. 
   
   
       10 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said first surface is parallel to a coil of an antenna in said first surface. 
   
   
       11 . A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a device which allows detecting a proximity of a person, and terminating transmission upon detecting said proximity of a person. 
   
   
       12 . A system as in  claim 11 , wherein said device is switched on to detect a proximity of the person, and switched off to transmit power continuously. 
   
   
       13 . A system comprising:
 a magnetically coupled resonance system, that provides power to devices using magnetically coupled resonance,   a device, coupled to said magnetically coupled resonance system, which allows detecting a proximity of a person, and terminating transmission upon detecting said proximity of a person.   
   
   
       14 . A system as in  claim 13 , wherein said device is switched on to detect the proximity of the person, and switched off to transmit power continuously. 
   
   
       15 . A system in  claim 13 , wherein said magnetically coupled resonance system includes a first surface against which devices to be charged are located, and providing power at a first efficiency of power transfer to devices on said first surface, each of said devices receiving said power using magnetically coupled resonance between a transmitting antenna adjacent said first surface, and a receiving antenna in at least one device. 
   
   
       16 . A system in  claim 15 , wherein said magnetically coupled resonance system further provides power at a second efficiency of power transfer, lower than said first efficiency, to other devices that are not on said first surface. 
   
   
       17 . A system as in  claim 16 , wherein said system is tuned for maximum efficiency on said first surface. 
   
   
       18 . A system as in  claim 16 , wherein said transmitting antenna is tuned for a thickness of a material of said first surface. 
   
   
       19 . A system as in  claim 16 , wherein said devices which are not on said first surface are less than 12 inches away from said first surface. 
   
   
       20 . A system as in  claim 16 , wherein said devices which are not on said first surface are less than 3 feet away from said first surface. 
   
   
       21 . A system as in  claim 16 , wherein said first surface is integrated into a desktop component. 
   
   
       22 . A system as in  claim 21 , wherein said desktop component is a base of a monitor. 
   
   
       23 . A system as in  claim 21 , wherein said desktop component is a base of a lamp. 
   
   
       24 . A system as in  claim 21 , wherein said desktop component is a base of a telephone charger. 
   
   
       25 . A system as in  claim 16 , wherein said first surface is parallel to a coil of an antenna in said first surface. 
   
   
       26 . A method comprising:
 first powering a first device wirelessly, using a magnetically coupled resonance system, by resting said first device against a first surface against which devices to be provided with power are located, said first powering providing power at a first efficiency of power transfer to devices on said first surface; second powering a second device wirelessly, at a second efficiency of power transfer, lower than said first efficiency, said second device not being on said first surface, each of said second devices receiving said power using magnetically coupled resonance between a transmitting antenna adjacent said first surface, and a receiving antenna in at least one device.   
   
   
       27 . A system comprising:
 a magnetically coupled resonance system, that includes a first surface against which devices to be provided with power are located, said resonance system including a repeater antenna, adjacent said surface, which repeats magnetically resonantly received power over a whole area of said first surface, thereby converting the whole desktop into a charging system.   
   
   
       28 . A system as in  claim 27 , further comprising a magnetic transmitter, separated from said repeater antenna, and tuned to resonance with said repeater antenna. 
   
   
       29 . A system as in  claim 27 , wherein said repeater antenna is integrated into a desktop component. 
   
   
       30 . A system as in  claim 29 , wherein said desktop component is a base of a monitor. 
   
   
       31 . A system as in  claim 29 , wherein said desktop component is a base of a lamp. 
   
   
       32 . A system as in  claim 29 , wherein said desktop component is a base of a telephone charger. 
   
   
       33 . A system as in  claim 27 , wherein said first surface is parallel to a coil of an antenna in said first surface. 
   
   
       34 . A system as in  claim 27 , further comprising a device which allows detecting a proximity of a person, and terminating transmission upon detecting said proximity of a person. 
   
   
       35 . A system as in  claim 27 , wherein said device is switched on to detect a proximity of the person, and switched off to transmit power continuously. 
   
   
       36 . A system comprising:
 a magnetically coupled resonance system, that includes a first repeater antenna resonant with a first frequency, which repeats magnetically resonantly received power at said first frequency in an area of said first repeater antenna, and a second repeater antenna, spaced from said first repeater antenna and resonant with a first frequency, which repeats magnetically resonantly received power at said first frequency in an area of said second repeater antenna.   
   
   
       37 . A system as in  claim 36 , further comprising a first surface against which devices to be provided with power are located, said first surface being adjacent said second repeater antenna. 
   
   
       38 . A system as in  claim 37 , wherein said first surface is a desktop, and the whole desktop is used as a charging system. 
   
   
       39 . A system as in  claim 36 , further comprising a magnetic transmitter, separated from said repeater antenna, and tuned to resonance with said repeater antenna. 
   
   
       40 . A system as in  claim 39 , wherein said repeater antenna is integrated into a desktop component. 
   
   
       41 . A system as in  claim 40 , wherein said desktop component comprises a base of a monitor. 
   
   
       42 . A system as in  claim 40 , wherein said desktop component comprises a base of a lamp. 
   
   
       43 . A system as in  claim 40 , wherein said desktop component comprises a base of a portable electronic device charger. 
   
   
       44 . A system as in  claim 36 , wherein said first surface is parallel to a coil of an antenna in said first surface. 
   
   
       45 . A system as in  claim 36 , further comprising a device which allows detecting a proximity of a person, and terminating transmission upon detecting said proximity of a person. 
   
   
       46 . A system as in  claim 36 , wherein said system is switched on to detect a proximity of the person, and switched off to transmit power continuously. 
   
   
       47 . A system as in  claim 40 , wherein said portable electronic device comprises a cellular communication device. 
   
   
       48 . A system comprising:
 a magnetically coupled resonance system, that includes a transmitter antenna resonant with a first frequency, which transmits magnetically resonant power at said first frequency and a repeater antenna, spaced from said transmitter antenna and resonant with said first frequency, which repeats magnetically resonantly received power at said first frequency in an area of said repeater antenna,
 wherein said transmitter antenna and said repeater antenna are the same size. 
   
   
   
       49 . A system comprising:
 a magnetically coupled resonance system, that includes a transmitter antenna resonant with a first frequency, which transmits magnetically resonant power at said first frequency and a repeater antenna, spaced from said transmitter antenna and resonant with said first frequency, which repeats magnetically resonantly received power at said first frequency in an area of said repeater antenna,
 wherein said transmitter antenna is larger in its overall size than said repeater antenna. 
   
   
   
       50 . A system as in  claim 49 , wherein said transmitter antenna has a larger diameter than said repeater antenna.