SUB-APERTURES FOR WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER

摘要

A signal generator generates an electrical signal that is sent to an amplifier, which increases the power of the signal using power from a power source. The amplified signal is fed to a sender transducer to generate ultrasonic waves that can be focused and sent to a receiver. The receiver transducer converts the ultrasonic waves back into electrical energy and stores it in an energy storage device, such as a battery, or uses the electrical energy to power a device. In this way, a device can be remotely charged or powered without having to be tethered to an electrical outlet.

主权项

1. A system, comprising:
a sender comprising:
a first signal generator;a first amplifier coupled to the first signal generator, said first amplifier configured to receive power from a power source and to generate an electrical transmission signal adapted to be used to generate ultrasonic waves;a sender transducer coupled to the first amplifier, the sender transducer adapted and configured to generate ultrasonic waves based on the electrical transmission signal received from the amplifier, the sender transducer comprising transmit elements adapted and configured to generate the ultrasonic waves and divided among two or more sub-apertures;a sender controller coupled to at least one of the first signal generator, the first amplifier and the sender transducer, the sender controller adapted and configured steer the ultrasonic waves generated by the transmit elements of each of the two or more sub-apertures independently for each sub-aperture; anda sender communications device adapted to communicate with a receiver communications device; and the receiver comprising:
a receiver transducer adapted and configured to receive ultrasonic waves generated by the sender transducer, to generate a receiver electrical signal based on the received ultrasonic waves, and to connect to a receiver electrical storage device adapted and configured to store electrical energy based on the receiver electrical signal generated by the receiver transducer;a receiver communications device adapted and configured to send input to the sender communications device; anda receiver controller coupled to at least one of the receiver transducer and the receiver electrical storage device.