Tuning and gain control in electro-magnetic power systems

Abstract

Described herein are embodiments of a magnetic power coupling system that includes at least one high-Q receiver resonator, configured to receive a magnetic signal within a near field of at least one other high-Q resonator that conveys power therein, and converts said magnetic signal into power, and produces a power output, said receiver including a connection to a load, wherein said connection allows coupling of said power to said load, wherein said receiver creates a signal, said signal representing at least one characteristic of the power coupling, and wherein said characteristic of the power coupling changes based on environmental conditions.

1 . A magnetic power coupling system, comprising:
 at least one high-Q receiver resonator, configured to receive a magnetic signal within a near field of at least one other high-Q resonator that conveys power therein, and converts said magnetic signal into power, and produces a power output, said receiver including a connection to a load, wherein said connection allows coupling of said power to said load, wherein said receiver creates a signal, said signal representing at least one characteristic of the power coupling, and wherein said characteristic of the power coupling changes based on environmental conditions.   
     
     
         2 . A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising changing a characteristic of the power coupling based on said signal. 
     
     
         3 . A system as in  claim 2 , wherein said characteristic of the power coupling comprises a received power level at the receiver. 
     
     
         4 . A system as in  claim 2 , wherein said characteristic of the power coupling comprises a generated magnetic field level at the other resonator. 
     
     
         5 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said signal controls changing a characteristic of the power coupling. 
     
     
         6 . A system as in  claim 2 , wherein said changing a characteristic comprises changing a position of at least one resonator. 
     
     
         7 . A system as in  claim 2 , wherein said changing a characteristic comprises changing a current circulating in at least one resonator coil. 
     
     
         8 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said signal is sent from said receiver to said other resonator wirelessly. 
     
     
         9 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one receiver changes its resonant frequency responsive to said signal. 
     
     
         10 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one other resonator changes its resonant frequency responsive to said signal. 
     
     
         11 . A system, comprising:
 a magnetic power coupling system, comprising at least one high-Q magnetic resonator, that receives electric power from a power source to be transmitted to at least one remote high-Q receiver magnetic resonator, and couples said power to said remote receiver magnetically by creating a magnetic near-field, said magnetic power coupling system also including a receiving part that receives at least one signal indicative of the magnetic power coupling, and changes a characteristic of the created magnetic field based on said at least one signal indicative of said coupling.   
     
     
         12 . A system as in  claim 11 , wherein said at least one high-Q magnetic resonator changes a way that power is transmitted responsive to said signal. 
     
     
         13 . A system as in  claim 12 , wherein said changing the way the power is transmitted comprises changing a position of at least one resonator. 
     
     
         14 . A system as in  claim 13 , wherein said changing the way that the power is transmitted comprises changing a current circulating in at least one resonator coil. 
     
     
         15 . A system as in  claim 11 , wherein said at least one signal is received wirelessly. 
     
     
         16 . A system as in  claim 11 , wherein said at least one magnetic resonator changes its resonant frequency based on said at least one signal. 
     
     
         17 . A system as in  claim 11 , wherein said at least one magnetic resonator changes at least one resonator driving signal. 
     
     
         18 . A system as in  claim 17 , wherein said changing comprises digital signal processing. 
     
     
         19 . A system as in  claim 17 , wherein said changing changes a frequency of the generated magnetic field. 
     
     
         20 . A method, comprising:
 creating a magnetic field within a near field of at least one high-Q resonator to be used to couple electric power to a load;   detecting if at least one high-Q device resonator coupled to a load is present, and adjusting said created near-field based on the presence of the at least one device resonator coupled to a load.   
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 receiving electric power from a power source, to be transmitted wirelessly to at least one remote high-Q receiver resonator,   coupling said power to said remote receiver magnetically by creating a magnetic field within a near field of at least one other high-Q resonator;   receiving a signal indicative of said power transmission, and   changing a characteristic of the created magnetic field based on said signal.   
     
     
         22 . A method as in  claim 21 , wherein said changing a characteristic comprises changing a position of at least one resonator. 
     
     
         23 . A method as in  claim 21 , wherein said changing a characteristic comprises changing a current circulating in at least one resonator coil. 
     
     
         24 . A method, comprising:
 using electric power to drive at least a first high-Q resonator to create a magnetic field that has the capability to convey power from a first location, where the electric power is created, to a second location within the near field of the at least one high-Q resonator remote from said first location;   receiving the magnetic field in at least one high-Q receiver resonator that is remote from a source of said electric power and is not connected thereto by a conducting wire, and, based on said receiving, producing an electrical output signal based on said magnetic field;   receiving a signal indicative of said conveyance of electric power; and   based on said signal, changing a characteristic of the created magnetic field.   
     
     
         25 . An apparatus, comprising:
 means for creating a magnetic near field in the vicinity of at least one high-Q source resonator to induce currents in at least one high-Q receiver resonator coupled to a load;   means for detecting if the load is present; and   means for adjusting the created magnetic field based on said detecting.   
     
     
         26 . An apparatus as in  claim 25 , wherein the means for creating a magnetic near field in the vicinity the high-Q source resonator comprises driving the source resonator at its resonant frequency. 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus as in  claim 25 , wherein the means for detecting if the load is present is through information exchange from the high-Q receiver resonator to the high-Q source resonator. 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus as in  claim 25 , wherein the means for adjusting the created magnetic field is through adjusting a current flowing in the high-Q source resonator. 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus as in  claim 25 , wherein the means for adjusting the created magnetic field is through adjusting a power source drive parameter to the high-Q source resonator. 
     
     
         30 . An apparatus as in  claim 29 , wherein the drive parameter is at least one of frequency and amplitude. 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus, comprising:
 means for receiving electric power from a power source, to be transmitted to at least one remote high-Q receiver resonator,   means for coupling said power to said remote receiver magnetically by creating a magnetic field within a near field of at least one high-Q source resonator;   means for receiving a signal indicative of said transmitted power, and   means for changing a characteristic of the created magnetic field based on said signal.   
     
     
         32 . An apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein the means for receiving electric power from a power source is at least one of a power supply and control unit. 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein the means for coupling said power to said remote receiver magnetically comprises driving the source resonator at its resonant frequency. 
     
     
         34 . An apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein the means for receiving a signal indicative of said transmitted power is through information exchange from the high-Q receiver resonator to the high-Q source resonator. 
     
     
         35 . An apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein the means for changing a characteristic of the created magnetic field is through adjusting a current flowing in the high-Q source resonator. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein the means for changing a characteristic of the created magnetic field is through adjusting a power source drive parameter to the high-Q source resonator. 
     
     
         37 . An apparatus as in  claim 36 , wherein the drive parameter is at least one of frequency and amplitude. 
     
     
         38 . An apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein said means for changing a characteristic comprises means for changing a position of a resonator. 
     
     
         39 . An apparatus as in  claim 38 , wherein the means for changing the position of the resonator comprises changing the distance between the two resonators. 
     
     
         40 . An apparatus as in  claim 39 , wherein the changing of the position is through a mechanical movement. 
     
     
         41 . An apparatus as in  claim 39 , wherein the changing of the position is through a motorized movement. 
     
     
         42 . An apparatus as in  claim 38 , wherein the means for changing the position of the resonator comprises changing the orientation between the two resonators. 
     
     
         43 . An apparatus as in  claim 42 , wherein the changing of the orientation is through a mechanical movement. 
     
     
         44 . An apparatus as in  claim 42 , wherein the changing of the orientation is through a motorized movement. 
     
     
         45 . An apparatus as in  claim 31 , wherein said means for changing a characteristic comprises a means for controlling the current circulating in at least one resonator coil. 
     
     
         46 . An apparatus as in  claim 45 , wherein the means for controlling the current circulating is through adjusting a power source drive parameter to the high-Q source resonator. 
     
     
         47 . An apparatus as in  claim 46 , wherein the drive parameter is at least one of frequency and amplitude.