Wireless energy transfer
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsAristeidis Karalis, Andre B. Kurs, Robert Moffatt, John D. Joannopoulos, Peter H. Fisher, Marin Soljacic
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Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus for use in wireless energy transfer, which includes a first resonator structure configured to transfer energy non-radiatively with a second resonator structure over a distance greater than a characteristic size of the second resonator structure. The non-radiative energy transfer is mediated by a coupling of a resonant field evanescent tail of the first resonator structure and a resonant field evanescent tail of the second resonator structure.
Claims34
A wireless power system comprising:
- a source resonator and a power supply coupled to the source resonator to provide power to the source resonator, the source resonator having a resonant frequency ω1, an intrinsic loss rate Γ1, and an intrinsic quality factor Q1=ω1/(2Γ1);
- and
- a device resonator and a load coupled to the device resonator to receive power from the device resonator, the device resonator having a resonant frequency ω2, an intrinsic loss rate Γ2, and an intrinsic quality factor Q2=ω2/(2Γ2),
- wherein the source resonator and the device resonator are configured to resonantly and wirelessly couple electromagnetic power from the source resonator to the device resonator over a range of distances D between the source resonator and the device resonator using non-radiative electromagnetic induction having a coupling coefficient κ, and wherein the intrinsic loss rates satisfy κ/√{square root over (Γ1Γ2)}>2 over the range of distances D between the source resonator and the device resonator,
- wherein Q1>100 and Q2>100, and
- further comprising a current probe configured to measure a current in at least one of the resonators.
A method for providing wireless power to a load, the method comprising:
- providing a source resonator and a power supply coupled to the source resonator to provide power to the source resonator, the source resonator having a resonant frequency an intrinsic loss rate Γ1, and an intrinsic quality factor Q1=ω1/(2Γ1);
- and
- providing a device resonator coupled to the load to provide power to the load, the device resonator having a resonant frequency ω2, an intrinsic loss rate Γ2, and an intrinsic quality factor Q2=ω2 (2Γ2),
- resonantly and wirelessly coupling electromagnetic power from the source resonator to the device resonator using non-radiative electromagnetic induction having a coupling coefficient κ, and wherein the intrinsic loss rates satisfy κ/√{square root over (Γ1Γ2)}>2 over a range of distances D between the source resonator and the device resonator,
- wherein Q1>100 and Q2>100, and
- further comprising measuring a current in at least one of the resonators.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.