Abstract
Florida International University (FIU) is
seeking a business partner to develop and commercialize a wireless power
transfer system (WPT) that is insensitive to misalignment. WPT is a
convenient way to power devices that require electrical energy and continues
to gain popularity. A WPT system typically consists of four elements: a
source loop, a load loop, and two additional loops that act as resonators. A
conventional transmitter includes a planar resonator and source, while the
receiver includes a planar load and resonator. The drawback of such a system
is that it is only efficient when the transmitter and receiver elements are
resonating at the same frequency and are properly aligned (i.e. they must
have the same Q factor). It is often impractical or inconvenient to ensure
proper alignment in products incorporating WPT, which results in a dramatic
decrease in the energy transfer efficiency. To address this problem, FIU
inventors have designed advantageous systems for WPT that are insensitive to
misalignment. The system does not show a significant decrease in efficiency
even if the transmitter and receiver alignment is changed such that they are
misaligned. The system can be designed to include one or more conductive
loops for transmitting or receiving electric power using inductive coupling.
The one or more loops can for a transmitter or receiver or both. These loops
can be formed on the surface of a sphere, cone, cylinder, or can form part of
one of these shapes. If the device is a receiver, it can be a wearable
device. The device can also be an implantable device.
Benefit
Misalignment insensitivity. Conductive loops can be formed on the surface of a: sphere,
Market Application
WPT systems for: wireless charging/powering of mobile devices, sensors, wearable and implantable devices
Brochure
