Wireless power transfer using air gap and metamaterial

摘要

Examples of the invention include methods and apparatus for wirelessly transmitting power to a vehicle using electromagnetic radiation. An example apparatus includes a transmitter coil associated with a first metamaterial lens, and a receiver coil associated with a second metamaterial lens, the receiver coil being located within the vehicle. The metamaterial lenses each have a negative magnetic permeability, and are separated by a lens spacing including an air gap. The first and second metamaterial lenses (and the lens spacing) act cooperatively to focus the electromagnetic radiation from the transmitter coil on the receiver coil.

主权项

1. An apparatus for transmitting power to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a power transmitter, including a transmitter coil and a first metamaterial lens, the power transmitter further including a first electromagnetic mirror; and a power receiver, including a receiver coil and a second metamaterial lens, the power receiver further including a second electromagnetic mirror, the power receiver being located within the vehicle, the transmitter coil, receiver coil, first metamaterial lens, and the second metamaterial lens being located between the first electromagnetic mirror and the second electromagnetic mirror, the first and second metamaterial lenses each having a negative magnetic permeability, the apparatus being operable to transmit electromagnetic radiation from the transmitter coil to the receiver coil when the transmitter coil is energized, the first metamaterial lens configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation from the transmitter coil onto a focus point, the focus point disposed equidistant between the first and second metamaterial lenses, the electromagnetic radiation transmitting from the focus point so as to be received by the receiver coil.