Wireless power transfer for process control

An apparatus to power wirelessly a first field device and a second field device of an industrial process, comprising:

• a source disposed about said industrial process, the source operable to convert electrical power into a power signal;
• a first receiver means for receiving the power signal and converting the power signal into electrical power and a
• second receiver means for receiving the power signal and converting the power signal into electrical power, the first receiver means and the second receiver means deployed about said industrial process remote from the source, the first receiver means in wired electrical communication with said first field device to flow electrical power onto said first field device, and the second receiver means in wired electrical communication with said second field device to flow electrical power onto said second field device simultaneously with the flowing of electrical power onto the first field device by the first receiver means;
• wherein the first receiver means, the second receiver means, said first field device, and said second field device are powered only by electrical power supplied by the power signal.

A method of process control of an industrial process, the method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting wirelessly a power signal from a single source to a first receiver and to a second receiver simultaneously, the power signal being selected from an oscillating magnetic field M and an electromagnetic field in the ultra high frequency (UHF) range;
• converting the power signal into electrical power by the first receiver and by the second receiver;
• and
• powering field devices disposed about said industrial process by flowing the electrical power onto the field devices from the first receiver and from the second receiver;
• wherein the first receiver, the second receiver, and the field devices are powered only by electrical power supplied by the power signal.

A process control apparatus, comprising:

• a power supply that supplies electrical power;
• a source disposed about an industrial process, the source in electrical communication with the power supply to receive electrical power from the power supply, the source operable to convert the electrical power into a power signal and transmit the power signal wirelessly over a distance of 1-1000 feet;
• at least two field devices disposed about the industrial process, wherein each of the at least two field devices requires power in the range of 40-50 mW to operate, wherein each of the at least two field devices has an attached receiver, wherein each receiver is operable to receive the power signal wirelessly from the source, convert the power signal into electrical power, and communicate the electrical power to the attached field device;
• wherein each of the at least two field devices and the attached receiver are powered only by electrical power supplied by the power signal.