Adaptive wireless power transfer apparatus and method thereof

Abstract

Described herein are embodiments of a method that includes coupling a high-Q resonator of a transmitter and a high-Q resonator of a receiver together by a common inductance of the transmitter and the receiver; and adjusting the transmitter, the receiver, or both, to control power transmitted wirelessly between the transmitter and the receiver.

1 . A method comprising:
 coupling a high-Q resonator of a transmitter and a high-Q resonator of a receiver together by a common inductance of the transmitter and the receiver; and   adjusting the transmitter, the receiver, or both, to control power transmitted wirelessly between the transmitter and the receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: producing a first and a second resonant mode of different frequencies for some common inductance value. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said adjusting includes adjusting any of: a range between the transmitter and the receiver, a relative orientation between the transmitter and the receiver, and a load on the receiver. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said adjusting includes adjusting any of: a frequency at which power is transmitted, an impedance between a loop and a coil of the transmitter, an impedance between a loop and a coil of the receiver, and an impedance-matching component of the transmitter and an impedance-matching component of the receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the transmitter or the receiver includes a loop and a coil. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the transmitter or the receiver includes an impedance matching network and a coil. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the transmitter or the receiver includes a transformer and a coil. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the transmitter or the receiver includes an impedance-matching network that includes inductors and capacitors configured to connect a signal source to the resonator structure. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 fixing a value of a loop-to-coil coupling coefficient of the transmitter; and   tuning a frequency adaptively to choose a desired frequency for a particular value of a coupling coefficient of a transmitter resonator coil to a receiver resonator coil.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring a reflected power; and   adjusting a frequency of the transmitter to minimize the reflected power.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the system is adjusted to maximize power transmitted wirelessly. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a desired frequency for a distance between the transmitter and the receiver based on information exchange between said transmitter and receiver.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring a received power; and   adjusting a frequency of the transmitter to maximize the received power.   
     
     
         14 . A transmitter comprising:
 a high-Q resonator configured to couple with a high-Q resonator of a receiver by a common inductance; and   a controller configured to optimize transmitted power, the transmitter configured to transmit power wirelessly to the receiver.   
     
     
         15 . The transmitter according to  claim 14 , wherein the resonator includes one or more of the following:
 a loop, a coil, a transformer, and an impedance-matching network.   
     
     
         16 . A receiver comprising:
 a high-Q resonator configured to couple with a high-Q resonator of a transmitter by a common inductance; and   optimally receive power wirelessly from the transmitter.   
     
     
         17 . The receiver according to  claim 16 , wherein the resonator includes one or more of the following:
 a loop, a coil, a transformer, and an impedance-matching network.