Self-charging electric vehicles and aircraft, and wireless energy distribution system

Abstract

A method and system for efficient distribution of power using wireless means, and a system and method for wireless power distribution to provide electric devices, such as vehicles with a way to continuously and wirelessly collect, use and charge their power systems and thereby use the transmitted power for operation. The system and method allows a hybrid, simplified and less costly way to charge devices, such as vehicles so that the devices continuously operate while charging/recharging.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless charging system, comprising:
 a secondary resonant coil located within a device and positioned to wirelessly receive electrical power from a primary resonant coil that has a resonant frequency that is substantially the same as a resonant frequency of the secondary resonant coil, wherein the primary resonant coil is located outside of the device and is operatively coupled to a source of electricity; and   a conversion element coupled to the secondary resonant coil that converts the electrical power received by the secondary resonant coil into converted electrical power, wherein the converted electrical power is operatively coupled to a load located within the device to thereby charge the device.   
     
     
         2 . The wireless charging system of  claim 1 , further comprising a coil located between the primary resonant coil and the secondary resonant coil, wherein the coil couples the electrical power from the primary resonant coil to the secondary resonant coil for extending a coupling distance over which the electrical power can be transferred between the source and the load. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless charging system of  claim 2 , wherein the coil is capacitively loaded. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless charging system of  claim 1 , further comprising a charge monitoring element that produces a charge indication signal indicative of a charge level of the load reaching a desired level. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless charging system of  claim 2 , wherein the coil tunnels an electric and/or magnetic field produced by the primary resonant coil in such a manner as to increase an efficiency of the electrical power transfer from the primary resonant coil to the secondary resonant coil. 
     
     
         6 . The wireless charging system of  claim 2 , further comprising a reflecting element positioned to reflect an electric and/or magnetic field produced by the coil in such a manner as to increase an efficiency of the electrical power transfer from the coil to the secondary resonant coil. 
     
     
         7 . The wireless charging system of  claim 1 , further comprising a reflecting means for reflecting electric and/or magnetic fields between the primary and secondary resonant coils. 
     
     
         8 . The wireless charging system of  claim 7 , wherein the reflecting means comprises a cone. 
     
     
         9 . The wireless charging system of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless charging system is further configured to facilitate transmission of data along with the transfer of the electrical power. 
     
     
         10 . The wireless charging system of  claim 1 , wherein the conversion element converts a frequency associated with the electrical power from a first frequency to a second frequency. 
     
     
         11 . The wireless charging system of  claim 1 , wherein the conversion element converts a voltage associated with the electrical power from a first voltage to a second voltage. 
     
     
         12 . The wireless charging system of  claim 1 , wherein the conversion element converts a current associated with the electrical power from a first current to a second current. 
     
     
         13 . A method of wirelessly charging a device, comprising the steps of:
 wirelessly receiving at a secondary resonant coil located within the device electrical power from a primary resonant coil that has a resonant frequency that is substantially the same as a resonant frequency of the secondary resonant coil, wherein the primary resonant coil is located outside of the device and is operatively coupled to a source of electricity; and   converting the electrical power received by the secondary resonant coil into converted electrical power, wherein the converted electrical power is operatively coupled to a load located within the device to thereby charge the device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of using a coil located between the primary resonant coil and the secondary resonant coil to couple the electrical power from the primary resonant coil to the secondary resonant coil to thereby extend a coupling distance over which the electrical power can be transferred between the source and the load. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of monitoring a charge level of the load and producing a charge indication signal indicative of the charge level reaching a desired level. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the coil tunnels an electric and/or magnetic field produced by the primary resonant coil in such a manner as to increase an efficiency of the electrical power transfer from the primary resonant coil to the secondary resonant coil. 
     
     
         17 . The charging method of  claim 14 , using a reflecting element to reflect an electric and/or magnetic field produced by the coil in such a manner as to increase an efficiency of the electrical power transfer from the coil to the secondary resonant coil. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , using a reflecting means to reflect electric and/or magnetic fields between the primary and secondary resonant coils. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising configuring the reflecting means as a cone. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising facilitating a transmission of data along with the transfer of the electrical power.