Resonators for wireless power transfer

Abstract

Described herein are embodiments of a method for receiving power wirelessly from at least one high-Q resonator that include integrating a high-Q resonator element in an electronic device, said high-Q resonator element including an inductive part wound around a magnetic material, said resonator element including a first coil portion which is connected in series with a capacitor to form an LC resonant circuit that may be resonant with an applied magnetic driving signal, and also including a second coil portion wound around a magnetic material, and inductively coupled to said first coil portion and receiving power wirelessly using said resonator element, at a frequency that is substantially resonant with a value determined according to said LC resonant circuit and producing an output using said coil portion to drive said electronic device.

1 . A method for receiving power wirelessly from at least one high-Q resonator, comprising:
 integrating a high-Q resonator element in an electronic device, said high-Q resonator element including an inductive part wound around a magnetic material, said resonator element including a first coil portion which is connected in series with a capacitor to form an LC resonant circuit that is resonant with an applied magnetic driving signal, and also including a second coil portion wound around a magnetic material, and inductively coupled to said first coil portion; and   receiving power wirelessly using said resonator element, at a frequency that is substantially resonant with a value determined according to said LC resonant circuit and producing an output using said coil portion to drive said electronic device.   
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , further comprising tuning the resonator element based on characteristics of the reception. 
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein said characteristics include an amount of power received by the electronic device. 
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein said tuning comprises changing a Q value of said first coil portion on said resonator element. 
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein said tuning comprises changing a resonant frequency value of said resonator element. 
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein said tuning comprises changing a characteristic to change the coupling coefficient. 
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said second coil part has a different number of windings than said first coil part. 
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein said resonant element comprises a rod of magnetic material which is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein said electronic device is a portable electronic device. 
     
     
         10 . A portable device for receiving power wirelessly from at least one high-Q resonator, comprising:
 a housing;   a high-Q resonator comprising a first coil part wound around a magnetic material, inside said housing, said first coil part in parallel with a capacitor forming an LC circuit, and a second coil part not wired to said first coil part;   a circuit, that receives power from said second coil part, and transfers said power to a powered device within said housing to power said device,   wherein said resonator operates to control an amount of power transferred within said housing.   
     
     
         11 . A device as in  claim 10 , wherein said resonator comprises a rod of magnetic material, extending across an area of said housing. 
     
     
         12 . A device as in  claim 10 , further comprising a tuning part for the resonator, said tuning part changing at least one parameter of said resonator to adjust an amount of received power. 
     
     
         13 . A device as in  claim 12 , wherein said tuning part changes a resonant frequency of said resonator. 
     
     
         14 . A device as in  claim 12 , wherein said tuning part changes a Q value of said resonator. 
     
     
         15 . A device as in  claim 12 , wherein said tuning part is controlled according to a parameter of operation of said powered device, to automatically change said tuning. 
     
     
         16 . A device as in  claim 12 , wherein said tuning part is controlled to change the coupling coefficient.