Surface-mounted resonators for wireless power

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10988940-B2
Application number	US-201715612605-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2017
Priority date	Jun 3, 2016
Publication date	Apr 27, 2021
Grant date	Apr 27, 2021

Abstract

A wireless electrical power transmission system includes a panel having a recessed area for receiving a wireless power transmitter, such as an electric field resonant transmitter. The panel has a first outer surface and a second outer surface opposite the first outer surface, with a thickness defined between the first and second outer surfaces. The recessed area is formed in the first outer surface, and the recessed area has a depth that is less than the thickness of the panel. Electrical wiring is coupled to the wireless power transmitter and passes through an opening formed in the panel, which opening is accessible from the recessed area, and the electrical wiring is in communication with an electrical power source.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A wireless electrical power transmission system comprising:
a panel having a first outermost surface and a second outermost surface opposite said first outermost surface, with a panel thickness comprising solid structural substrate defined between said first and second outermost surfaces;
a recessed area formed in said first outermost surface, wherein said recessed area has a depth that is less than said panel thickness;
a wire opening extending through said panel, from said second outermost surface to said recessed area;
a wireless power transmitter positioned in said recessed area, wherein an outer peripheral shape of said wireless power transmitter corresponds to an outer peripheral shape of said recessed area; and
electrical wiring coupled to said wireless power transmitter and passing through said wire opening and exiting said panel through said second outermost surface, wherein said electrical wiring is in communication with an electrical power source.

2. The wireless electrical power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein said panel comprises a ferrous material.

3. The wireless electrical power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein said panel comprises a ceramic or composite concrete material.

4. The wireless electrical power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein said recessed area is circular, square, or rectangular in shape.

5. The wireless electrical power transmission system of claim 4 , wherein said recessed area comprises at least two concentric circles or at least two squares having a common center.

6. The wireless electrical power transmission system of claim 5 , wherein said recessed area comprises a recessed pass-through disposed between said at least two concentric circles or between said at least two squares.

7. The wireless electrical power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein said panel comprises a structural floor panel of a raised floor system.

8. The wireless electrical power transmission system of claim 7 , wherein said panel is supported by a structural framework that cooperates with said panel to define a hollow chamber below said panel.

9. The wireless electrical power transmission system of claim 8 , further comprising a power driver circuit positioned in said hollow chamber and in electrical communication with said wiring and the electrical power source, wherein said power driver circuit is operable to receive high voltage AC power from the electrical power source and to convert the high voltage AC power to a voltage and type for use by said wireless power transmitter.

10. The wireless electrical power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein said wireless power transmitter is an electric field transmitter configured to establish an electric field resonant capacitive coupling with an electric field receiver spaced from said first outermost surface.

11. The wireless electrical power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein said wireless power transmitter has a transmitter thickness that is equal to or less than said depth of said recessed area.

12. The wireless electrical power transmission system of claim 1 , further comprising an aesthetic cover positioned along said first outermost surface of said panel and said wireless power transmitter.

13. The wireless electrical power transmission system of claim 12 , further comprising an adhesive layer for adhering said aesthetic cover to at least said first outermost surface of said panel.

14. The wireless electrical power transmission system of claim 12 , wherein said aesthetic cover comprises at least one chosen from (i) a vinyl or synthetic tile, (ii) gypsum board, (iii) a wood or composite wood panel or tile, and (iv) a concrete or ceramic or composite concrete panel or tile.

15. The wireless electrical power transmission system of claim 1 , wherein said panel comprises a floor panel, a wall or room divider panel, or a ceiling panel in a work area.

16. A wireless electrical power transmission system comprising:
a flooring panel comprising ferrous metal and having a first outermost surface and a second outermost surface opposite said first outermost surface, with a panel thickness comprising solid structural substrate defined between the first and second outermost surfaces;
a recessed area formed in said first outermost surface, wherein said recessed area has a depth that is less than said panel thickness;
a wireless power transmitter positioned in said recessed area, wherein an outer peripheral shape of said wireless power transmitter corresponds to an outer peripheral shape of said recessed area;
electrical wiring coupled to said wireless power transmitter and passing through an opening formed in said flooring panel and extending through said second outermost surface of said flooring panel at said recessed area and exiting said flooring panel through said second outermost surface, wherein said electrical wiring is in communication with an electrical power source;
an aesthetic cover positioned along said first outermost surface of said flooring panel;
an adhesive layer for adhering said aesthetic cover to at least said first outermost surface of said flooring panel; and
a protective sheet disposed between said wireless power transmitter and said aesthetic cover.

17. The wireless electrical power transmission system of claim 16 , wherein said aesthetic cover comprises at least one chosen from (i) a vinyl or synthetic tile, (ii) a wood or composite wood panel or tile, and (iii) a concrete or ceramic or composite concrete panel or tile.

18. The wireless electrical power transmission system of claim 16 , wherein said flooring panel comprises a structural floor panel of a raised floor system, said structural floor panel supported by a structural framework that cooperates with said panel to define a hollow chamber below said panel, and further comprising an electrical circuit disposed in said hollow chamber, wherein said electrical wiring is in electrical communication with said electrical power source via said electrical circuit.

Assignees

• Byrne Norman R
• Maher Peter J
• Warwick Timothy J
• Vander Till Gerald N
• Morrow Nickolas J

Inventors

• Byrne Norman R
• Maher Peter J
• Warwick Timothy J
• Vander Till Gerald N
• Morrow Nickolas J

Classifications

• E04F15/18

  Separately-laid insulating layers; Other additional insulating measures; Floating floors (insulating of buildings in general E04B1/62) · CPC title

• H02J50/05

  using capacitive coupling · CPC title

• E04F15/02405 Primary

  Floor panels · CPC title

• E04F2290/02

  for accommodating service installations or utility lines, e.g. heating conduits, electrical lines, lighting devices or service outlets · CPC title

• E04F15/04

  only of wood {or with a top layer of wood}, e.g. with wooden {or metal} connecting members (rollable parquet E04F15/16) · CPC title