`Kanno
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`USOO869835OB2
`
`(54) WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION UNIT
`AND POWER GENERATOR WITH THE
`WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION UNIT
`
`(75) Inventor: Hiroshi Kanno, Osaka (JP)
`
`(73) Assignee: Panasonic Corporation, Osaka (JP)
`
`c
`- r
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 365 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/267,033
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Oct. 6, 2011
`9
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2012/OO86281 A1
`Apr. 12, 2012
`
`(65)
`
`JP
`E.
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`WO
`WO
`
`4f1994
`06-096300 A
`6. 3.
`09: 3.d A
`1, 1998
`10-014 139 A
`7, 1999
`11-176676. A
`5, 2002
`2002-152997 A
`6, 2004
`2004-1663.23. A
`5, 2006
`2006-136045. A
`T 2010
`2010-166693. A
`4/2009
`2009,045847 A2
`2/2011
`2011/O19088 A2
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`International Search Report for corresponding International Appli
`p
`p
`9.
`pp
`cation No. PCT/JP2011/005631 mailed Jan. 17, 2012.
`Form PCT/ISA/237 for corresponding International Application No.
`PCT/JP2011/005631 dated Jan. 17, 2012.
`Co-Pending U.S. Appl. No. 12/853,351, filed Aug. 10, 2010.
`Supplementary European Search Report for corresponding European
`Application No. EP 11 83 0387 dated Jan. 9, 2013.
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(60) Eyinal application No. 61/391.274, filed on Oct.
`
`Primary Examiner — Robert L. Deberadinis
`74). Att
`, Agent, or Firm — R
`, Otto, Boisselle &
`Sir lege gent, or Firm C, JLO SO1SSCII
`
`(51) Int. Cl
`H02.3/38
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`USPC ............................................... 307/19. 307/18
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`s
`USPC
`307/18, 19
`See a lication file for complete search histo
`s
`pp
`p
`ry.
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,008,622 A
`2008/0278.264 A1
`2010.0033156 A1
`
`12/1999 Nakawatase
`11/2008 Karalis et al.
`2/2010 Abe et al.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`DE
`EP
`
`11 2006 002 299 T5
`2211 438 A1
`
`6, 2008
`T 2010
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A wireless power transmission unit includes oscillators that
`convert DC energy into RF energy with a frequency fo, power
`gy
`gy
`quency IU, p
`transmitting antennas, and power receiving antennas. Each
`power transmitting antenna is a series resonant circuit in
`which a power transmitting inductor and a first capacitor are
`connected in series. Each power receiving antenna is a paral
`lel resonant circuit in which a power receiving inductor and a
`second capacitor are connected in parallel. If the oscillator
`has a Voltage step-up ratio Voc, the power transmitting induc
`tor has an inductance L1, the power receiving inductor has an
`inductance L2, and the power transmitting and power receiv
`ing antennas and have a coupling coefficient k, (L.2/L1)24(k/
`Voc) is satisfied. The absolute value of the phase difference
`Ores between the respective resonant magnetic fields of first
`and second pairs of resonant antennas is set to fall within the
`range of 90 to 180 degrees.
`
`32 Claims, 23 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`192
`
`ONTROL
`Ecton
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 001
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 1 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. I.
`
`192
`
`
`
`
`
`se
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 002
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 2 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. 2
`
`195a
`
`195b
`
`(a)
`
`(b)
`
`6 res
`
`195a
`
`
`
`195b.
`
`6 res
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 003
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 3 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. 3
`
`
`
`103
`
`192
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CONTROL
`SECTION
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 004
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 4 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. 4
`
`
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 005
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`F.G. 5
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 006
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 6 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. 6
`
`
`
`103
`
`107
`
`109
`
`107a: 109a
`
`Y
`O
`H
`CC
`-
`
`O
`(VD
`O
`
`119
`
`- 109b
`
`119
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 007
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 7 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. 7
`
`192
`
`
`
`
`
`POWER
`GENERANG
`SECTION
`
`101
`
`POWER
`GENERATING
`SECTION
`
`
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 008
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 8 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. 8
`
`101
`
`
`
`103
`
`107
`
`109
`
`(D
`Z
`H
`C
`Y
`2
`O
`2
`H
`O
`(D
`Y
`CO
`S
`O
`?
`
`FIG. 9
`
`f O
`
`1 O1
`
`2OO
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`f R
`
`DEVICE
`ELECTRONIC
`DEVICE
`
`1 11
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 009
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 9 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. IO
`
`107
`
`109
`
`
`
`115
`
`or
`
`:
`
`5.
`{
`103 107
`gr 467,563."
`L1 : L2
`::
`::
`R1 is R2
`107e: 109C
`w/7
`k
`
`o
`s
`
`O
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 010
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 10 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. I2
`
`
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 011
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 11 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. I.3
`
`
`
`Y
`O
`Ho
`c
`-
`
`O
`C/D
`O
`
`119
`
`119
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 012
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 12 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. I.4
`
`
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 013
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 13 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. I.5
`
`
`
`(a)
`
`1 O7a
`
`113
`
`& x: X
`
`888
`
`Saskarracks & : : 8
`
`x:
`:
`
`8.
`
`:
`
`
`
`
`
`109a
`
`240
`
`(b)
`
`
`
`XXarry
`XXXXXXXXXX-rate
`XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXarr
`XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX⇒
`axxxxxXXXXXX&
`
`& YSSY S&S
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 014
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 14 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. I6
`
`131a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`131
`
`103
`
`107
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 015
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 15 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. I. 7
`
`141a
`
`141b
`
`N
`
`d2
`
`C3
`
`141C
`
`141d
`
`FIG. I.8
`
`141
`
`141
`
`N. N.
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 016
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 16 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. I9
`
`131a
`
`195a
`
`197a
`
`6 resa
`
`| mae FÈ ! §§| | |
`
`| |
`
`115 133a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`13
`
`{ | | | | | | |
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 017
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 17 Of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. 20
`
`(a)
`
`
`
`(b)
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 018
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 18 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG 21
`
`131a
`
`131b
`
`133a
`
`| |
`
`| |
`
`101
`
`103
`
`107
`
`131 n
`
`.... |
`| | \ \ \
`| | | |
`\ \
`\
`
`101
`
`103
`
`107
`
`109
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 019
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 19 Of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`189
`
`133
`
`NOLL OES || - /
`
`\ \ | | | | | |
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 020
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 20 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. 23
`
`131a
`
`1953
`
`|
`
`195
`
`
`
`\ffNNE LNY?
`
`A
`
`6 resb
`
`133
`
`103
`
`107
`
`109
`
`s
`
`31
`
`1951
`
`8 resn
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 021
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 21 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. 24
`
`
`
`g (Cm)
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 022
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 22 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. 25
`
`25OOO
`
`
`
`2OOOO
`
`5
`
`15000
`N 10000
`N
`5OOO
`
`-o-efficiency
`
`O
`
`g (Cm)
`
`100
`90
`80 a
`70 ;
`60
`50
`40 d" 5
`30 g
`20
`10 S
`O
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 023
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 2014
`
`Sheet 23 of 23
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`FIG. 26
`
`
`
`.
`n
`3
`N
`N
`
`-A-Zr
`-- efficiency
`
`A
`
`f
`
`100
`99
`98
`97 it,
`96
`95
`94 g
`93 c5
`92 91 S
`
`D
`
`90
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 024
`
`
`
`1.
`WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION UNIT
`AND POWER GENERATOR WITH THE
`WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION UNIT
`
`This application claims priority under 35 USC S 119(e) to 5
`U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/391,274 filed on Oct. 8,
`2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by
`reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`10
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to a magnetic resonant cou
`pling wireless powertransmission unit for transmitting power
`by non-contact method using magnetic resonant coupling 15
`instead of electromagnetic induction or electromagnetic
`wave propagation. The present invention also relates to a
`magnetic resonant coupling power generator for raising the
`Voltage of electric energy, which has been generated by a
`power generating section Such as a Solar cell, by magnetic 20
`resonant coupling wireless power transmission.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`A Solar power generator ordinarily uses a so-called 'solar
`cell module' in which a very large number of solar cells
`(which will be simply referred to herein as “cells') are 25
`arranged inside a metallic frame and connected together. A
`glass plate is arranged in front of the Solar cell module (which
`will be simply referred to herein as a “module') so that the
`respective cells operate without being exposed to the air. And
`by assembling a number of Such solar cell modules together, 30
`a solar power generator can be established.
`Use of such a solar power generator, however, has not been
`widespread yet because the cost of manufacturing those cells
`and modules is too high, which is one of the major obstacles
`to its introduction. On top of that, the cost of establishing such 35
`a system by installing those cells and modules is also too high
`to neglect. Among other things, the higher the altitude of the
`place of installation, the riskier and the more expensive the
`installation work will be, which is a serious problem to over
`come in order to further popularize the Solar power generator. 40
`What is more, to introduce a Solar power generator into an
`existing building, it is difficult to install the wiring connecting
`the Solar power generating section outside of the building to
`electronic devices inside of the building, which is also one of
`the big problems with conventional Solar power generators. 45
`As will be described later, in a conventional solar power
`generator, the output Voltage of each of its cells is so low that
`a great many solar cells should be connected together to
`obtain a Voltage that is high enough to operate an electronic
`device. And a decrease in reliability at Such a very large 50
`number of connection points is a decisive factor in the decline
`of the long-term reliability of the overall system. In addition,
`if those modules and cables deteriorate with a long-term use,
`their replacements should also be installed at Such a height.
`Consequently, the cost of maintenance is also non-negligible. 55
`As a conventional Solar power generator that would over
`come such problems, a power Supply system for Supplying
`energy wirelessly from outside of a building and through the
`walls of the building has been proposed (see Japanese Patent
`Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-136045 (Em- 60
`bodiment 5 and FIG. 19), for example). Such a power supply
`system transmits RF (radio frequency) energy through the
`walls by electromagnetic induction.
`On the other hand, United States Patent Application Pub
`lication No. 2008/0278264 (FIGS. 15 and 17) discloses a new 65
`type of wireless energy transfer system for transferring
`energy from one of two resonators to the other, and vice versa,
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`2
`through the space between them. The wireless energy transfer
`system couples the two resonators with each other via the
`evanescent tail of the oscillation energy of the resonant fre
`quency that is produced in the space Surrounding those two
`resonators, thereby transferring the oscillation energy wire
`lessly (i.e., by a non-contact method).
`The power Supply system disclosed in Japanese Patent
`Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-136045, how
`ever, cannot overcome the Solar power generation device's
`own problem that the output voltage of each cell is low. In the
`field of Solar power generation, a crystalline silicon based
`solar cell, which is currently used broadly due to its high
`energy conversion efficiency, has an output Voltage Vc of just
`about 0.5 V. For example, if the DC output of a solar power
`generating section needs to be converted into AC power, the
`operation efficiency of a normal power conditioner is maxi
`mized in response to an input Voltage of approximately 300
`Vdc. That is why to get that conversion done with high effi
`ciency, the output voltage of the Solar power generating sec
`tion should be increased to the vicinity of 300V by connect
`ing as many as several hundreds of cells together in series. On
`the other hand, if connected to a three-wire single-phase grid
`system (with a working voltage of 100 V or 200 V), which is
`a normal household wiring system, the Solar power generat
`ing section may have its output Voltage increased by a power
`conditioner as much as 200 fold or more. Considering the
`decrease in power efficiency to be caused by increasing the
`voltage that much, it is still preferred that a very large number
`of cells be connected together in series to increase the output
`Voltage of the Solar power generating section as much as
`possible.
`It should be noted that even if the DC voltage is not con
`Verted into AC power within Such a solar power generation
`system, a similar problem will also arise. For example, in a
`DC power supply system that has attracted a lot of attention
`these days, its working voltage will be either 48 Vdc or within
`the range of 300 to 400 Vdc. That is why even when solar
`energy needs to be Supplied to a DC power Supply system,
`several tens to several hundreds of solar cells also need to be
`connected together in series.
`However, the greater the number of cells or modules to be
`connected together in series, the more easily the overall per
`formance of the system will decline due to either so-called
`"partial shading” (i.e., Some of the installation Zone goes into
`the shade) or deterioration in the property of some of those
`cells or modules to be installed. To overcome such a problem,
`normally a countermeasure Such as introduction of a bypass
`diode into each module is taken. Such a measure is not pre
`ferred because an excessive quantity of heat will be generated
`or the cost will rise significantly in that case. Meanwhile, even
`when the Voltage needs to be increased using a normal
`DC/DC converter with a voltage boosting function, it is also
`difficult to achieve sufficiently efficiently a voltage step-up
`ratio that is high enough to significantly reduce the number of
`cells to be connected together in series.
`Also, the Voltage boosting ability of the wireless energy
`transfer system disclosed in United States Patent Application
`Publication No. 2008/0278264 is limited to what should be
`realized by conventional transformer technology and is not
`sufficiently effective to overcome those problems to be solved
`by the present invention.
`A preferred embodiment of the present invention is
`designed so as to overcome the aforementioned problems
`with conventional systems and it is therefore an object of the
`present invention to provide a wireless power transmission
`unit that can increase a low output Voltage of a power gener
`ating section effectively.
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 025
`
`
`
`3
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`A wireless power transmission unit according to the
`present invention includes first and second wireless power
`transmitting sections, a combining section, and a control sec
`tion. Each of the first and second wireless power transmitting
`sections includes: an oscillator, which converts DC energy
`into RF energy having a frequency fo; a power transmitting
`antenna, which transmits the RF energy and which includes a
`first inductor and a first capacitor that are connected together
`in series to form a series resonant circuit with a resonant
`frequency fl; and a power receiving antenna, which receives,
`by coupling a resonant magnetic field, at least a part of the RF
`energy that has been transmitted by the power transmitting
`antenna and which includes a second inductor and a second
`capacitor that are connected in parallel with each other to
`form a parallel resonant circuit with a resonant frequency fR.
`The resonant frequencies fT and fR are set to be substantially
`equal to the frequency fo of the RF energy. If the oscillator has
`a Voltage step-up ratio Voc, the first inductor has an induc
`tance L1, the second inductor has an inductance L2, and the
`power transmitting and power receiving antennas have a cou
`pling coefficient k, the first and second wireless power trans
`mitting sections satisfy (L2/L1)>4(k/Voc). The combining
`section combines together RF energies that have been Sup
`plied from the respective power receiving antennas of the first
`and second wireless power transmitting sections and outputs
`the combined RF energy. And the control section controls the
`respective oscillators of the first and second wireless power
`transmitting sections so that the respective phases of the reso
`nant magnetic fields of the first and second wireless power
`transmitting sections have a phase difference Ores of 90 to 180
`degrees therebetween.
`A power generator according to the present invention
`includes first and second power generating units, a combining
`section, and a control section. Each of the first and second
`power generating units includes: a power generating section,
`which outputs DC energy; an oscillator, which converts the
`DC energy Supplied from the power generating section into
`RF energy having a frequency fo; a power transmitting
`antenna, which transmits the RF energy and which includes a
`first inductor and a first capacitor that are connected together
`in series to form a series resonant circuit with a resonant
`frequency fl; and a power receiving antenna, which receives,
`by coupling a resonant magnetic field, at least a part of the RF
`energy that has been transmitted by the power transmitting
`antenna and which includes a second inductor and a second
`capacitor that are connected in parallel with each other to
`form a parallel resonant circuit with a resonant frequency fR.
`The resonant frequencies fT and fR are set to be substantially
`equal to the frequency fo of the RF energy. If the oscillator has
`a Voltage step-up ratio Voc, the first inductor has an induc
`tance L1, the second inductor has an inductance L2, and the
`power transmitting and power receiving antennas have a cou
`pling coefficient k, the first and second power generating units
`satisfy (L2/L1)>4(k/Voc). The combining section combines
`together RF energies that have been supplied from the respec
`tive power receiving antennas of the first and second power
`generating units and outputs the combined RF energy. The
`control section controls the respective oscillators of the first
`and second power generating units so that the respective
`phases of the resonant magnetic fields of the first and second
`power generating units have a phase difference Ores of 90 to
`180 degrees therebetween.
`Another power generator according to the present inven
`tion includes first and second power generating units, an
`output section, and a control section. Each of the first and
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`4
`second power generating units includes: a power generating
`section, which outputs DC energy; an oscillator, which con
`verts the DC energy Supplied from the power generating
`section into RF energy having a frequency fo; a power trans
`mitting antenna, which transmits the RF energy and which
`includes a first inductor and a first capacitor that are con
`nected together in series to form a series resonant circuit with
`a resonant frequency fl; a power receiving antenna, which
`receives, by coupling a resonant magnetic field, at least a part
`of the RF energy that has been transmitted by the power
`transmitting antenna and which includes a second inductor
`and a second capacitor that are connected in parallel with each
`other to form a parallel resonant circuit with a resonant fre
`quency fR; and a rectifier, which converts the RF energy
`Supplied from the power receiving antenna into DC energy.
`The resonant frequencies fT and fR are set to be substantially
`equal to the frequency fo of the RF energy. If the oscillator has
`a Voltage step-up ratio Voc, the rectifier has a Voltage step-up
`ratio Vrr, the first inductor has an inductance L1, the second
`inductor has an inductance L2, and the power transmitting
`and power receiving antennas have a coupling coefficient k,
`the first and second power transmission units satisfy (L2/L1)
`>4(k/(VocxVrr)). The output section combines RF energies
`that have been received from the respective power transmit
`ting antennas of the first and second power generating units
`and outputs the combined RF energy. The control section
`controls the respective oscillators of the first and second
`power generating units so that the respective phases of the
`resonant magnetic fields of the first and second power gener
`ating units have a phase difference Ores of 90 to 180 degrees
`therebetween.
`Yet another power generator according to the present
`invention includes N power generating units, where N is an
`integer that is equal to or greater than four, and a combining
`section, which combines together the respective outputs of
`the power generating units in parallel with each other. Each
`power generating unit includes: a power generating section,
`which outputs DC energy; an oscillator, which converts the
`DC energy Supplied from the power generating section into
`RF energy having a frequency fo; a power transmitting
`antenna, which transmits the RF energy and which includes a
`first inductor and a first capacitor that are connected together
`in series to form a series resonant circuit with a resonant
`frequency fl; and a power receiving antenna, which receives,
`by coupling a resonant magnetic field, at least a part of the RF
`energy that has been transmitted by the power transmitting
`antenna and which includes a second inductor and a second
`capacitor that are connected in parallel with each other to
`form a parallel resonant circuit with a resonant frequency fR.
`The resonant frequencies fT and fR are set to be substantially
`equal to the frequency fo of the RF energy. If the oscillator has
`a Voltage step-up ratio Voc, the first inductor has an induc
`tance L1, the second inductor has an inductance L2, and the
`power transmitting and power receiving antennas have a cou
`pling coefficient k, the power transmission unit satisfies (L2/
`L1)>4(k/Voc). The power generator further includes a con
`trol section, which controls the respective oscillators of the
`power generating units so that the resonant magnetic field in
`one of two proximate ones of the N power generating units
`has a phase difference Ores of 90 to 180 degrees from the
`resonant magnetic field in the other power generating unit.
`A wireless power transmission unit according to a pre
`ferred embodiment of the present invention can increase the
`Voltage significantly in transmitting power between antennas
`by using coupling between magnetic resonant fields. Also, a
`power generator in accordance with a preferred embodiments
`of the present invention can transmit energy wirelessly (i.e.,
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 026
`
`
`
`US 8,698,350 B2
`
`5
`by a non-contact method). Thus, according to the present
`invention, the energy generated by a power generating section
`that is arranged outside of a building can be transferred to an
`electronic device inside of that building at an increased volt
`age. Consequently, according to a preferred embodiment of
`the present invention, the cost of installing the power genera
`tor can be reduced and the job of replacing a deteriorated part
`of the power generating section can be done more easily. In
`addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present
`invention, leakage of unwanted electromagnetic components
`into the Surrounding space, which people would worry about
`when introducing a wireless power transmission unit, can be
`reduced as well.
`On top of that, according to another preferred embodiment
`of the present invention, the output voltage of the power
`generating section can be increased easily. That is why if the
`power generating section is made up of power generators
`(e.g., Solar cells) with a low output Voltage, the number of
`those power generators to be connected together can be
`reduced significantly. Consequently, if a Solar power genera
`tion system is formed by connecting power generators
`according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
`together in parallel, deterioration due to the partial shading
`can be minimized and power can be supplied with good
`stability.
`Other features, elements, processes, steps, characteristics
`and advantages of the present invention will become more
`apparent from the following detailed description of preferred
`embodiments of the present invention with reference to the
`attached drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`6
`FIG.15(a) is a plan view illustrating an exemplary arrange
`ment of two inductors and FIG. 15(b) is a schematic cross
`sectional view thereof.
`FIG. 16 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a power
`generator according to the present invention.
`FIG. 17 is a schematic top view illustrating an example of
`a power generator according to the present invention.
`FIG. 18 is a schematic top view illustrating another
`example of a power generator according to the present inven
`tion.
`FIG. 19 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of a
`power generator according to the present invention.
`FIG. 200a) is a circuit diagram illustrating a half-wave
`voltage doubler rectifier circuit for use in the power generator
`as the second preferred embodiment of the present invention,
`while FIG.20(b) is a circuit diagram illustrating a full-wave
`voltage doubler rectifier circuit for also use in the second
`preferred embodiment.
`FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating another preferred
`embodiment of a power generator according to the present
`invention.
`FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating another preferred
`embodiment of a power generator according to the present
`invention.
`FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating another preferred
`embodiment of a power generator according to the present
`invention.
`FIG. 24 is a graph showing the dependences of the input
`and output impedances Zin and Zout of the wireless trans
`mission section on the antenna-to-antenna gap in a specific
`example of the present invention.
`FIG. 25 is a graph showing how the input/output imped
`ance conversion ratio Zr and the wireless transfer efficiency
`of the wireless transmission section depend on the antenna
`to-antenna gap in a specific example of the present invention.
`FIG. 26 is a graph showing how the input/output imped
`ance conversion ratio Zr and the wireless transfer efficiency
`of the wireless transmission section depended on the antenna
`to-antenna gap in a first specific example of the present inven
`tion.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a wireless power
`transmission unit and power generator according to the
`present invention will be described. First of all, the funda
`mental configuration of the present invention will be
`described briefly with reference to FIGS. 1 through 11.
`FIG. 1 illustrates a fundamental arrangement for a wireless
`power transmission unit according to the present invention.
`This wireless power transmission unit includes first and
`second wireless power transmitting sections 10a and 10b, of
`which the respective outputs are connected in parallel with
`each other. Each of the first and second wireless power trans
`mitting sections 10a and 10b includes: an oscillator 103.
`which outputs RF energy having a frequency fo; a power
`transmitting antenna 107, which transmits the RF energy
`having the frequency fo that has been supplied from the
`oscillator 103; and a power receiving antenna 109, which
`receives, by coupling a resonant magnetic field, at least a part
`of the RF energy that has been transmitted by the power
`transmitting antenna 107.
`The respective phases of the RF energies supplied from
`these oscillators 103 are controlled by a control section 192,
`which is, for example, a processor such as a CPU (Central
`Processing Unit). The control section 192 can adjust the dif
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a fundamental arrangement for a wireless
`power transmission unit according to the present invention.
`FIGS. 2(a) and 20b) are waveform diagrams, each of which
`shows the phases of resonant magnetic fields.
`FIG. 3 illustrates another fundamental arrangement for a
`wireless power transmission unit according to the present
`invention.
`FIG. 4 illustrates still another fundamental arrangement for
`a wireless power transmission unit according to the present
`invention.
`FIG. 5 illustrates a fundamental arrangement for wireless
`power transmitting sections of the present invention.
`FIG. 6 illustrates an equivalent circuit for antennas in the
`wireless power transmitting sections of the present invention.
`FIG. 7 illustrates a fundamental arrangement for a power
`generator according to the present invention.
`FIG. 8 illustrates an arrangement for a power generating
`unit according to the present invention.
`FIG. 9 is a schematic representation illustrating a typical
`application of a power generator according to the present
`invention.
`FIG. 10 illustrates a fundamental arrangement for another
`wireless power transmission unit (with a rectifier) according
`to the present invention.
`FIG. 11 illustrates a configuration for another power gen
`erator (with a rectifier) according to the present invention.
`FIG. 12 illustrates a first specific preferred embodiment of
`a power generator according to the present invention.
`FIG. 13 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the wireless
`transmission section of the power generator as the first pre
`ferred embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 14 illustrates a modified example of the first preferred
`embodiment of the power generator according to the present
`invention.
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Momentum Dynamics Corporation
`Exhibit 1005
`Page 027
`
`
`
`7
`ference in phase (i.e., the phase difference) between the
`respective resonant magnetic fields 195a and 195b of the first
`and second wireless power transmitting sections 10a and 10b
`to a predetermined value. In this wireless power transmission
`unit, the phase difference between the respective resonant
`magnetic fields 195a and 195b of the first and second wireless
`power transmitting sections 10a and 10b is set to fall within
`the range of 90 to 180 degrees.
`FIGS. 2(a) and 20b) are waveform diagrams, each of which
`schematically shows the phase difference between the reso
`nant magnetic fields 195a and 195b. Specifically, in the
`example illustrated in FIG. 2(a), the phase difference Ores
`falls within the range of 90 to 180 degrees. On the other hand,
`FIG. 2(b) shows the waveforms of the resonant magnetic
`fields 195a and 195b in a situation where the phase difference
`Ores is equal to 180 degrees.
`In this description, if the phase difference between two
`resonant magnetic fields of interest is represented as (360x
`n+0) degrees (where n is an integer and 0 is a real number that
`is equal to or greater than Zero but less than 360), the smaller
`one of 8 degrees and (360-0) degrees will be referred to
`herein as a “phase difference'. That is why the maximum
`value of the phase difference is 180 degrees.
`Now let us turn to FIG. 1 again.
`As shown in FIG. 1, the two dotted arrows representing the
`two resonant magnetic fields 195a and 195b point mutually
`opposite directions, which schematically indicates that their
`phase difference is 180 degrees.
`The control section 192 shown in FIG. 1 includes multiple
`pulse generators, which generate Switching pulses that define
`exactly when their associated oscillator 103 should start to
`oscillate, and a control section, which controls the operations
`of those pulse generators. An exemplary configuration for the
`control section 192 will be described in detail later.
`In the wireless power transmission unit