Wireless energy transfer using coupled resonators

Abstract

Described herein are embodiments of transmitting power wirelessly that includes driving a high-Q non-radiative resonator at a value near its resonant frequency to produce a magnetic field output, said non-radiative-resonator formed of a combination of resonant parts, including at least an inductive part formed by a wire loop, and a capacitor part that is separate from a material forming the inductive part, and maintaining at least one characteristic of said resonator such that its usable range has a usable distance over which power can be received, which distance is set by a detuning effect when a metallic structure gets too close to said resonator.

1 . A method of transmitting power wirelessly, comprising:
 driving a high-Q non-radiative resonator at a value near its resonant frequency to produce a magnetic field output, said non-radiative-resonator formed of a combination of resonant parts, including at least an inductive part formed by a wire loop, and a capacitor part that is separate from a material forming the inductive part; and maintaining at least one characteristic of said resonator such that its usable range has a usable distance over which power can be received, which distance is set by a detuning effect when a metallic structure gets too close to said resonator.   
   
   
       2 . A method as in  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the magnetic field in a second resonator, said second resonator also having a series resonant part, and producing usable power from said second resonator, and coupling said usable power to a load. 
   
   
       3 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said useable distance is between 6 and 8 inches. 
   
   
       4 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said usable distance is between 2 and 4 inches. 
   
   
       5 . A method as in  claim 1 , further comprising setting the resonant frequency to a value of approximately 13.56 MHz. 
   
   
       6 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said non-radiative resonator has a Q value of approximately 1400. 
   
   
       7 . A method as in  claim 1 , further comprising using a signal generator to produce said driving, and matching a characteristic of the signal generator to a characteristic of the resonator at resonance. 
   
   
       8 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said resonator has a substantially round outer form factor. 
   
   
       9 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said resonator is a dipole that includes a first high-Q inductive part, coupled to receive said driving, and a second high-Q part, which is physically separated from said inductive part, said second high-Q part formed of at least one loop of wire in series with said capacitor. 
   
   
       10 . A method as in  claim 9 , wherein said high-Q inductive part and said second high-Q part have different outer form factors. 
   
   
       11 . A method as in  claim 9 , wherein said high-Q inductive part and said second high-Q part have substantially the same outer form factors. 
   
   
       12 . A method as in  claim 9 , wherein said second high-Q part is electrically connected to said capacitor part. 
   
   
       13 . A method as in  claim 12 , wherein said capacitor part is a variable capacitor. 
   
   
       14 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said effect is a detuning of said resonant frequency of said resonator. 
   
   
       15 . A method, comprising:
 generating a magnetic field using a first high-Q resonator;   receiving said magnetic field in a second high-Q resonator; and   in said second high-Q resonator, using power from the magnetic field.   
   
   
       16 . A method as in  claim 15 , further comprising using said power in said second high-Q resonator to drive a load. 
   
   
       17 . A method as in  claim 15 , wherein said generating comprises using a capacitively loaded resonator for generating the magnetic field. 
   
   
       18 . A method, comprising:
 forming a magnetic field using a first high-Q part;   coupling said magnetic field to a second high-Q part using near-field coupling with said first part, where said second part is further than 6 inches from said first part; and   in said second part, recovering power from the coupled magnetic field.   
   
   
       19 . A method as in  claim 18 , further comprising using said power in said high-Q second part to drive a load. 
   
   
       20 . A method as in  claim 18 , wherein said forming comprises using a capacitively loaded resonator for forming the magnetic field. 
   
   
       21 . A system comprising:
 a high-Q resonator; a driving part for said resonator, driving said resonator at a value near its resonant frequency to produce a magnetic field output, said resonator formed of a combination of series resonant parts, including at least an inductive part formed by a wire loop, and a capacitor part that is separate from a material forming the inductive part, and wherein said resonator has at least one characteristic such that its usable range has a usable distance over which power can be received, which distance is set by a detuning effect when a metallic structure gets too close to said resonator.   
   
   
       22 . A system as in  claim 21 , further comprising a second resonator, also having a series resonant part that has a corresponding resonance to said resonant frequency of said resonator, and has a connection outputting usable power to a load. 
   
   
       23 . A system as in  claim 22 , wherein said useable distance is between 6 and 8 inches. 
   
   
       24 . A system as in  claim 21 , wherein said usable distance is between 2 and 4 inches. 
   
   
       25 . A system as in  claim 21 , wherein the resonant frequency is set to a value of approximately 13.56 MHz. 
   
   
       26 . A system as in  claim 21 , wherein said resonator has a Q value of approximately 1400. 
   
   
       27 . A system as in  claim 21 , further comprising signal generator that drives said resonator, said signal generator having a characteristic of the signal generator that is matched to a characteristic of the resonator at resonance. 
   
   
       28 . A system as in  claim 21 , wherein said resonator has a substantially round outer form factor. 
   
   
       29 . A system as in  claim 21 , wherein said resonator includes a first high-Q inductive part, coupled to receive said driving, and a second high-Q part, which is physically separated from said inductive part, said second part formed of at least one loop of plural coils of wire in series with said capacitor. 
   
   
       30 . A system as in  claim 29 , wherein said high-Q inductive part and said second high-Q part have different outer form factors. 
   
   
       31 . A system as in  claim 29 , wherein said high-Q inductive part and said second high-Q part have substantially the same outer form factors. 
   
   
       32 . A system as in  claim 29 , wherein said second high-Q part is electrically connected to said capacitor part. 
   
   
       33 . A system as in  claim 32 , wherein said capacitor part is a variable capacitor. 
   
   
       34 . A system, comprising: a first high-Q resonator part formed of a capacitively loaded resonator; a second high-Q resonator part, tuned to have similar resonant characteristics to said first resonator part, receiving a magnetic field therefrom, and producing a power output from the magnetic field. 
   
   
       35 . A system, comprising:
 a first high-Q LC circuit, connected to receive a signal that forms a magnetic field; and   a second high-Q LC circuit that forms near-field coupling with said first high-Q LC circuit, where said second part is further than 6 inches from said first part, and has a connection for recovering power from the coupled magnetic field.   
   
   
       36 . A system as in  claim 35 , wherein said first LC circuit includes a capacitively loaded resonator for generating the magnetic field. 
   
   
       37 . A method of transmitting power wirelessly, comprising:
 driving a high-Q resonator at a value near a resonant frequency of said resonator to produce a magnetic field output, said resonator defining a distance between a metallic structure and said resonator, and formed of a combination of resonant parts, including at least an inductive part formed by a wire loop, and a capacitor part that is separate from a material forming the inductive part; and maintaining at least one characteristic of said resonator such that its usable range has a usable distance over which power can be received, which distance is set by an effect when a metallic structure gets too close to said resonator.   
   
   
       38 . A method as in  claim 37 , further comprising receiving the magnetic field in a second resonator, said second resonator producing usable power from said second resonator, and coupling said usable power to a load. 
   
   
       39 . A method as in  claim 37 , wherein said useable distance is between 6 and 8 inches. 
   
   
       40 . A method as in  claim 37 , wherein said usable distance is between 2 and 4 inches. 
   
   
       41 . A method as in  claim 37 , further comprising setting the resonant frequency to a value of approximately 13.56 MHz. 
   
   
       42 . A method as in  claim 37 , wherein said resonator has a Q value of approximately 1400. 
   
   
       43 . A method as in  claim 37 , wherein said resonator has a substantially round outer form factor. 
   
   
       44 . A method as in  claim 37 , wherein said resonator includes a first high-Q inductive part, coupled to receive said driving, and a second high-Q part, which is physically separated from said high-Q inductive part, said second high-Q part formed of at least one loop of wire in series with said capacitor. 
   
   
       45 . A method as in  claim 44 , wherein said high-Q inductive part and said second high-Q part have different outer form factors. 
   
   
       46 . A method as in  claim 44 , wherein said high-Q inductive part and said second high-Q part have substantially the same outer form factors. 
   
   
       47 . A method as in  claim 44 , wherein said second high-Q part is electrically connected to said capacitor part. 
   
   
       48 . A method as in  claim 47 , wherein said capacitor part is a variable capacitor. 
   
   
       49 . A method, comprising:
 generating a magnetic field using a first high-Q resonator;   receiving said magnetic field in a second high-Q resonator; and   in said second high-Q resonator, using power from the magnetic field.   
   
   
       50 . A method as in  claim 49 , further comprising using said power in said second high-Q resonator to drive a load. 
   
   
       51 . A method as in  claim 49 , wherein said generating comprises using a capacitively loaded resonator for generating the magnetic field. 
   
   
       52 . A method, comprising:
 forming a magnetic field using a high-Q first part;   coupling said magnetic field to a second high-Q part using near-field coupling with said first part, where said second part is further than 6 inches from said first part; and   in said second part, recovering power from the coupled magnetic field.   
   
   
       53 . A method as in  claim 52 , further comprising using said power in said high-Q second part to drive a load. 
   
   
       54 . A method as in  claim 52 , wherein said forming comprises using a capacitively loaded resonator for forming the magnetic field. 
   
   
       55 . A system comprising:
 a high-Q resonator;   a driving part for said resonator, driving said resonator at a value near a resonant frequency of said resonator to produce a magnetic field output, said resonator formed of a combination of parts, including at least an inductive part formed by a wire loop, and a capacitor part that is separate from a material forming the inductive part, and wherein said resonator has at least one characteristic such that its usable range has a usable distance over which power can be received, which distance is set by a detuning effect that changes said resonant frequency when a metallic structure gets too close to said resonator.   
   
   
       56 . A system as in  claim 55 , further comprising a second resonator, also having part that has a corresponding resonance to said resonant frequency of said resonator, and has a connection outputting usable power to a load. 
   
   
       57 . A system as in  claim 56 , wherein said useable distance is between 6 and 8 inches. 
   
   
       58 . A system as in  claim 55 , wherein said usable distance is between 2 and 4 inches. 
   
   
       59 . A system as in  claim 55 , wherein the resonant frequency is set to a value of approximately 13.56 MHz. 
   
   
       60 . A system as in  claim 55 , wherein said resonator has a Q value of approximately 1400. 
   
   
       61 . A system as in  claim 55 , wherein said resonator has a substantially round outer form factor. 
   
   
       62 . A system as in  claim 55 , wherein said resonator includes a first high-Q inductive part, coupled to receive said driving, and a second high-Q part, which is physically separated from said first high-Q inductive part, said second high-Q part, formed of at least one loop of plural coils of wire in series with said capacitor. 
   
   
       63 . A system as in  claim 62 , wherein said first high-Q inductive part and said second high-Q part have different outer form factors. 
   
   
       64 . A system as in  claim 62 , wherein said first high-Q inductive part and said second high-Q part have substantially the same outer form factors. 
   
   
       65 . A system as in  claim 62 , wherein said second high-Q part is electrically connected to said capacitor part. 
   
   
       66 . A system as in  claim 65 , wherein said capacitor part is a variable capacitor. 
   
   
       67 . A system, comprising:
 a first high-Q resonator part formed of a capacitively loaded resonator; and a second high-Q resonator part, tuned to have similar resonant characteristics to said first resonator part, receiving a magnetic field therefrom, and producing a power output from the magnetic field.   
   
   
       68 . A system, comprising:
 a first high-Q LC circuit, connected to receive a signal that forms a magnetic field; and a second high-Q LC circuit that forms near-field coupling with said first high-Q LC circuit, where said second part is further than 6 inches from said first part, and has a connection for recovering power from the coupled magnetic field.   
   
   
       69 . A method of wirelessly receiving power, comprising:
 receiving power from a high-Q resonator, by interacting with said resonator at a value near its resonant frequency to produce a power output from a received magnetic field,   said receiving comprising connecting a receiving circuit directly to a first high-Q resonator, and also receiving wireless power in a second high-Q resonator loop formed of a combination of resonant parts, including at least an inductive part and a capacitance, where said second resonator loop is physically separated from said first high-Q resonator.   
   
   
       70 . A method as in  claim 69 , wherein said resonator has at least one characteristic such that its usable range has a usable distance over which power can be received, which distance is set by a detuning effect that changes a resonant frequency when a metallic structure gets too close to said resonator. 
   
   
       71 . A method as in  claim 70 , wherein said useable distance is between 6 and 8 inches. 
   
   
       72 . A method as in  claim 70 , wherein said usable distance is between 2 and 4 inches. 
   
   
       73 . A method as in  claim 69 , wherein the resonant frequency is set to a value of approximately 13.56 MHz. 
   
   
       74 . A method of wirelessly transmitting power, comprising:
 producing a magnetic power signal at a first frequency;   coupling said power signal to a first high-Q inductive loop by connecting to said first inductive loop; and   inducing said power signal into a second high-Q inductive loop from the first inductive loop, said second inductive loop having a resonant frequency substantially matched to said first frequency.   
   
   
       75 . A method as in  claim 74 , where said second high-Q inductive loop is physically separated from said first high-Q inductive loop. 
   
   
       76 . A method of  claim 74 , wherein said high-Q inductive loop has at least one characteristic such that its usable range has a usable distance over which power can be received, which distance is set by a detuning effect when a metallic structure gets too close to said high-Q inductive loop. 
   
   
       77 . A method as in  claim 76 , wherein said useable distance is between 6 and 8 inches. 
   
   
       78 . A method as in  claim 76 , wherein said useable distance is between 2 and 4 inches. 
   
   
       79 . A method as in  claim 37 , wherein said effect is a detuning of said resonant frequency of said resonator.