Multi-layer, multi-turn inductor structure for wireless transfer of power

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11336003-B2
Application number	US-202117150895-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2021
Priority date	Mar 9, 2009
Publication date	May 17, 2022
Grant date	May 17, 2022

Abstract

A structure for wireless communication having a plurality of conductor layers, an insulator layer separating each of the conductor layers, and at least one connector connecting two of the conductor layers wherein an electrical resistance is reduced when an electrical signal is induced in the resonator at a predetermined frequency. The structure is capable of transmitting or receiving electrical energy and/or data at various near and far field magnetic coupling frequencies.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for wireless transfer of power, the system comprising:
(1) a first device comprising:
(a) a transmitting antenna for wireless transfer of power;
(b) a power source configured to supply power to the transmitting antenna; and

(2) a second device comprising:
(a) a receiving antenna for wireless transfer of power, the receiving antenna comprising a multi-layer, multi-turn inductor structure including:
a first conductive layer comprising a first conductive trace arranged in a first multi-turn coil configuration, wherein the first conductive trace has two ends, and wherein the first conductive trace provides a first current path within the multi-layer, multi-turn inductor structure that is configured to carry induced alternating current from a first one of the first conductive trace's two ends to a second one of the first conductive trace's two ends;
a second conductive layer comprising a second conductive trace arranged in a second multi-turn coil configuration, wherein the second conductive trace has two ends, and wherein the second conductive trace provides a second current path within the multi-layer, multi-turn inductor structure that is configured to carry induced alternating current from a first one of the second conductive trace's two ends to a second one of the second conductive trace's two ends;
a layer of insulating material between the first and second conductive layers such that the first conductive trace arranged in the first multi-turn coil configuration is on a first side of the layer of insulating material and the second conductive trace arranged in the second multi-turn coil configuration is on a second side of the layer of insulating material;
a first connection point at which the first one of the first conductive trace's two ends and the first one of the second conductive trace's two ends are electrically connected; and
a second connection point at which the second one of the first conductive trace's two ends and the second one of the second conductive trace's two ends are electrically connected;

(b) a rechargeable battery; and
(c) transfer circuitry configured to transfer alternating current from the receiving antenna to the rechargeable battery;

wherein the transmitting antenna is configured to produce an external magnetic field for wireless transfer of power at a frequency within a given frequency range when the power source is supplying power to the transmitting antenna; and
wherein the multi-layer, multi-turn inductor structure of the receiving antenna is configured for wireless transfer of power within the given frequency range such that, when the receiving antenna is in a near field of the transmitting antenna while it is generating the external magnetic field for wireless transfer of power at the frequency within the given frequency range, an alternating current is capable of being induced in the multi-layer, multi-turn inductor structure that flows through both the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace and is provided to the rechargeable battery via the transfer circuitry.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second connection points within the multi-layer, multi-turn inductor structure electrically connect the first and second conductive traces in parallel.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the given frequency range comprises a range of approximately 135 kilohertz (KHz) to 150 KHz.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transfer circuitry comprises circuitry for converting the alternating current to a direct current that is provided to the rechargeable battery.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiving antenna further comprises a tuning circuit that is configured to tune the multi-layer, multi-turn inductor structure to operate at a particular frequency within the given frequency range.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the transmitting antenna is further configured to produce a modulated signal for wireless transfer of control information; and
the multi-layer, multi-turn inductor structure of the receiving antenna is further configured to extract the control information from the modulated signal.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second conductive layers each have three or more turns.

8. A receiving antenna for wireless transfer of power, the receiving antenna comprising:
a multi-layer, multi-turn inductor structure including:
a first conductive layer comprising a first conductive trace arranged in a first multi-turn coil configuration, wherein the first conductive trace has two ends, and wherein the first conductive trace provides a first current path within the multi-layer, multi-turn inductor structure that is configured to carry induced alternating current from a first one of the first conductive trace's two ends to a second one of the first conductive trace's two ends;
a second conductive layer comprising a second conductive trace arranged in a second multi-turn coil configuration, wherein the second conductive trace has two ends, and wherein the second conductive trace provides a second current path within the multi-layer, multi-turn inductor structure that is configured to carry induced alternating current from a first one of the second conductive trace's two ends to a second one of the second conductive trace's two ends;
a layer of insulating material between the first and second conductive layers such that the first conductive trace arranged in the first multi-turn coil configuration is on a first side of the layer of insulating material and the second conductive trace arranged in the second multi-turn coil configuration is on a second side of the layer of insulating material;
a first connection point at which the first one of the first conductive trace's two ends and the first one of the second conductive trace's two ends are electrically connected; and
a second connection point at which the second one of the first conductive trace's two ends and the second one of the second conductive trace's two ends are electrically connected;

wherein the multi-layer, multi-turn inductor structure is configured for wireless transfer of power within a given frequency range such that, when the receiving antenna is in a near field of a transmitting antenna that is generating an external magnetic field for wireless transfer of power at a frequency within the given frequency range, an alternating current is capable of being induced in the multi-layer, multi-turn inductor structure that flows through both the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace and is convertible into a direct current for powering an electronic device.

9. The receiving antenna of claim 8 , wherein the first and second connection points electrically connect the first and second conductive traces in parallel.

10. The receiving antenna of claim 8 , wherein the first connection point comprises a first set of two or more vias and the second connection point comprises a second set of two or more vias.

11. The receiving antenna of claim 8 , wherein the multi-layer, multi-turn inductor structure further includes a respective connection point that electrically connects the first and second conductive traces at each end of each different turn within the multi-layer, multi-turn inductor structure.

12. The receiving antenna of claim 8 , wherein the electronic device is a mobile device, wherein the receiving antenna is included as part of the mobile device, and wherein the direct current for powering the electronic device is used to charge a battery of the mobile device.

13. The receiving antenna of claim 8 , wherein the first and second conductive layers each have

Assignees

• Nucurrent Inc

Inventors

• Singh Vinit
• Frysz Christine A

Classifications

• H02J50/005 Primary

  Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices · CPC title

• H01Q1/38 Primary

  formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface  H01Q15/142)} · CPC title

• H02J2105/46

  Medical devices, medical implants or life supporting devices · CPC title

• H04B5/45

  Transponders · CPC title

• H04B5/24

  Inductive coupling · CPC title