Smart RF lensing: efficient, dynamic and mobile wireless power transfer
AssigneeCalifornia Institute of Technology
InventorsKaushik Sengupta, Seyed Ali Hajimiri
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An RF lens includes a multitude of radiators adapted to transmit radio frequency electromagnetic EM waves whose phases are modulated so as to concentrate the radiated power in a small volume of space in order to power an electronic device positioned in that space. Accordingly, the waves emitted by the radiators are caused to interfere constructively at that space. The multitude of radiators are optionally formed in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array. The electromagnetic waves radiated by the radiators have the same frequency but variable amplitudes.
Claims40
An RF lens comprising:
- a first plurality of radiators adapted to radiate electromagnetic waves to power a device positioned away from the RF lens, wherein the plurality of radiators operate at a first frequency;
- and
- a plurality of locked loop circuits adapted to control phases of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the first plurality of radiators such that the phase of the electromagnetic wave radiated by each of the plurality of radiators is set in accordance with a distance between the radiator and the device, wherein said plurality of locked loop circuits are further adapted to lock a phase or a frequency of the electromagnetic wave radiated by each of the first plurality of radiators to a phase or frequency of a reference signal, wherein said reference signal is not generated by a target receiving the electromagnetic waves radiated by the plurality of radiators.
A method of wirelessly powering a device, the method comprising:
- transmitting a plurality of electromagnetic waves at a first frequency from a first plurality of radiators to the device;
- varying phases of the first plurality of radiators by a plurality of locked loop circuits such that the phase of an electromagnetic wave radiated by each of the plurality of radiators is set in accordance with a distance between the radiator and the device;
- locking a phase or a frequency of the electromagnetic wave radiated by each of the first plurality of radiators to a phase or frequency of a reference signal, wherein said reference signal is not generated by a target receiving the electromagnetic waves radiated by the plurality of radiators;
- and
- providing power to the device using the plurality of electromagnetic waves received by the device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.