Wireless electric field power transfer system, method, transmitter and receiver therefor

Abstract

A wireless electric field power transmission system comprises: a transmitter comprising a transmitter antenna, the transmitter antenna comprising at least two conductors defining a volume therebetween; and at least one receiver, wherein the transmitter antenna transfers power wirelessly via electric field coupling when the at least one receiver is within the volume.

1 . A wireless electric field power transmission system comprising:
 a transmitter comprising a transmitter antenna, the transmitter antenna comprising at least one conductor; and   at least one receiver, wherein the transmitter antenna transfers power wirelessly via electric field coupling when the at least one receiver is coupled to the transmitter.   
     
     
         2 . A transmitter for wirelessly transmitting power, the transmitter comprising:
 an antenna for creating an electric field, the antenna comprising at least two conductors defining a volume;   a coil connected to the antenna; and   a resonator connected to the coil for resonating the coil and the antenna at a resonant frequency, the resonator comprising an auto frequency tuning circuit configured to automatically tune the transmitter.   
     
     
         3 . The transmitter of  claim 2 , wherein the antenna comprises at least two generally parallel plates that are laterally spaced to define the volume. 
     
     
         4 . The transmitter of  claim 2 , wherein the auto frequency tuning circuit further comprises a decoupling circuit configured to decouple an output signal of the transmitter. 
     
     
         5 . The transmitter of  claim 4 , wherein the decoupling circuit comprises a balun. 
     
     
         6 . A receiver for receiving wirelessly transmitted power, the receiver comprising:
 an antenna comprising two conductors;   a coil connected to the antenna;   a resonator connected to the coil for resonating the coil and the antenna at a resonant frequency, the resonator comprising an auto frequency tuning circuit configured to automatically tune the resonator.   
     
     
         7 . The receiver of  claim 6 , wherein the conductors are external to a housing accommodating the coil and the resonator. 
     
     
         8 . The receiver of  claim 6 , wherein the conductors are plates or rails, and wherein the rails are rectangular and parallel. 
     
     
         9 . The receiver of  claim 6 , wherein the resonator further comprises modification circuitry configured to modify a signal received by the receiver when a condition occurs. 
     
     
         10 . The receiver of  claim 9 , wherein the modification circuitry adjusts the signal received by the receiver when the condition occurs. 
     
     
         11 . The receiver of  claim 9 , wherein the modification circuitry is a voltage converter and/or a rectifier. 
     
     
         12 . A wireless power transmission system that wirelessly transmits alternating current power from a transmitter to a receiver, the wireless power transmission system comprising:
 the transmitter comprising:
 first and second conductors spaced apart by a predetermined distance, the first and second conductors having a total width, including the predetermined distance, of less than or equal to λ/2π, which is a near field range; 
 a first connection line that electrically connects the first conductor and one of two output terminals of an alternating current power generating section; 
 a second connection line that electrically connects the second conductor and the other of two output terminals of the alternating current power generating section; and 
 at least one first inductor that is interposed between the first and second conductors and at least one of the two output terminals of the alternating current power generating section, 
   the receiver comprising:
 third and fourth conductors spaced apart by a predetermined distance, the third and fourth conductors having a total width, including the predetermined distance, of less than or equal to λ/2π, which is a near field range; 
 a third connection line that electrically connects the third conductor and one of two input terminals of a load; 
 a fourth connection line that electrically connects the fourth conductor and the other of two input terminals of the load; and 
 at least one second inductor that is interposed between the third and fourth conductors and at least one of the two input terminals of the load, 
   a coupler including the first and second conductors and the at least one first inductor forms one resonant circuit and a coupler including the third and fourth conductors and the at least one second inductor forms another resonant circuit, a resonant frequency of the coupler including the first and second conductors and the at least one first inductor and a resonant frequency of the coupler including the third and fourth conductors and the at least one second inductor being configured to be equal, the first and second conductors and the third and fourth conductors being spaced apart by a distance of less than or equal to λ/2π, which is a near field range, and   wherein the first and second conductors and the third and fourth conductors are coupled with electric field resonance so that the alternating current power is transmitted from the first and second conductors of the transmitter to the third and fourth conductors of the receiver by use of an electric field.   
     
     
         13 . The wireless power transmission system according to  claim 12 , wherein the first to fourth conductors have a flat plate shape. 
     
     
         14 . The wireless power transmission system according to  claim 12 , wherein the first and second conductors and the third and fourth conductors are disposed generally in the same plane. 
     
     
         15 . The wireless power transmission system according to  claim 12 , wherein the first and third conductors and the second and fourth conductors are disposed generally in parallel. 
     
     
         16 . A transmitter comprising:
 first and second conductors spaced apart by a predetermined distance, the first and second conductors having a total width, including the predetermined distance, of less than or equal to λ/2π, which is a near field range;   a first connection line that electrically connects the first conductor and one of two output terminals of an alternating current power generating section;   a second connection line that electrically connects the second conductor and the other of two output terminals of the alternating current power generating section; and   at least one first inductor that is interposed between the first and second conductors and at least one of the two output terminals of the alternating current power generating section,   a coupler including the first and second conductors and the at least one first inductor forms one resonant circuit and a coupler including third and fourth conductors of a receiver and the at least one second inductor forms another resonant circuit,   a resonant frequency of the coupler including the first and second conductors and the at least one first inductor is configured to be equal to a resonant frequency of the coupler including the third and fourth conductors and the at least one second inductor of the receiver, the first and second conductors and the third and fourth conductors being spaced apart by a distance of less than or equal to λ/2π, which is a near field range, and   wherein the first and second conductors and the third and fourth conductors are coupled with electric field resonance so that the alternating current power is transmitted from the first and second conductors of the transmitter to the third and fourth conductors of the receiver by use of an electric field.   
     
     
         17 . A receiver comprising:
 third and fourth conductors spaced apart by a predetermined distance, the third and fourth conductors having a total width, including the predetermined distance, of less than or equal to λ/2π, which is a near field range;   a third connection line that electrically connects the third conductor and one of two input terminals of a load;   a fourth connection line that electrically connects the fourth conductor and the other of two input terminals of the load; and   at least one second inductor that is interposed between the third and fourth conductors and at least one of the two input terminals of the load,   a coupler including first and second conductors of a transmitter and at least one first inductor that forms one resonant circuit and a coupler including the third and fourth conductors and the at least one second inductor that forms another resonant circuit,   a resonant frequency of the coupler including the third and fourth conductors and the at least one second inductor is configured to be equal to a resonant frequency of the coupler including the first and second conductors and the first inductor of the power transmitting device, and   wherein the first and second conductors and the third and fourth conductors are coupled with electric field resonance so that the alternating current power is transmitted from the first and second conductors of the transmitter to the third and fourth conductors of the receiver by use of an electric field.