ANTENNA PLACEMENT IN DEGENERATE MODAL CAVITIES OF AN ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY TRANSFER SYSTEM

1 .- 42 . (canceled)

43 . An apparatus for applying electromagnetic energy to an object in a degenerate energy application zone via at least one source of electromagnetic energy, the apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to:

determine a weight to be associated with at least one resonant mode in the degenerate energy application zone, among a plurality of resonant modes within a mode family, wherein the weight is associated with an amount of energy to be used to excite the resonant mode, and

regulate the at least one source to apply electromagnetic energy based on the determined weight.

44 . The apparatus of claim 43 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the weight to be associated with the at least one resonant mode based on feedback received from the degenerate energy application zone having the object therein.

45 . The apparatus of claim 43 , wherein the weight is associated with a power level of the electromagnetic energy for exciting the resonant mode.

46 . The apparatus of claim 43 , wherein the weight is associated with a time duration over which the electromagnetic energy is applied for exciting the resonant mode.

47 . The apparatus of claim 43 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to regulate the at least one source to control a phase difference between two electromagnetic waves at a same frequency to excite a desired resonant mode in the degenerate energy application zone.

48 . The apparatus of claim 47 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to change weights associated with at least two resonant modes, to cause an angular shift of a field pattern excited by the two electromagnetic waves,

49 . The apparatus of claim 48 , wherein the at least two resonant modes are orthogonal to each other.

50 . The apparatus of claim 43 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to change weights associated with at least two resonant modes, to cause an angular shift of a field pattern excited in the electromagnetic energy application.

51 . The apparatus of claim 50 , wherein the at least two resonant modes are orthogonal to each other.

52 . The apparatus of claim 50 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to change the weights of the at least two resonant modes to rotate the excited field pattern,

53 . The apparatus of claim 50 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to change the weights dynamically.

54 . The apparatus of claim 43 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine the weight to be associated with the at least one resonant mode such that differing amounts of electromagnetic energy are applied to differing predetermined regions in the degenerate energy application zone.

55 . The apparatus of claim 43 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

select at least two radiating elements from a plurality of radiating elements; and

control electromagnetic energy application to the selected radiating elements such that at least one desired resonant mode is excited.

56 . The apparatus of claim 55 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to;

select the at least two radiating elements from the plurality of radiating elements such that at least one resonant mode is rejected.

57 . The apparatus of claim 43 , wherein the plurality of resonant modes within the mode family are of a same transverse type.

58 . The apparatus of claim 43 , wherein the degenerate energy application zone includes at least one of a circular cross-section or a square cross-section.

59 . The apparatus of claim 43 , further comprising at least two radiating elements, wherein the at least two radiating elements are positioned to reject at least one resonant mode.

60 . The apparatus of claim 59 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

select at least two radiating elements from a plurality of radiating elements; and

control electromagnetic energy application to the selected radiating elements such that at least one desired resonant mode is excited and at least one other resonant mode is rejected.

61 . The apparatus of claim 43 , further comprising at least two radiating elements, wherein the at least two radiating elements are positioned to excite at least one resonant mode.

62 . The apparatus of claim 61 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

select at least two radiating elements from a plurality of radiating elements; and

control electromagnetic energy application to the selected radiating elements such that at least one desired resonant mode is excited and at least one other resonant mode is rejected.

63 . The apparatus of claim 43 , further comprising a plurality of radiating elements, wherein the at least one processor is configured to control at least one of location, orientation, or polarization of at least one radiating element from the plurality of radiating elements.

64 . A method of applying electromagnetic energy to an object in a degenerate energy application zone, the method comprising:

determining a weight to be associated with at least one resonant mode in the degenerate energy application zone, among a plurality of resonant modes within a mode family, wherein the weight is associated with an amount of energy to be used to excite the resonant mode; and

applying electromagnetic energy based on the determined weight.

65 . The method of claim 64 , further comprising;

receiving feedback from the degenerate energy application zone having the object therein; and

determining the weight to be associated with the at least one resonant mode based on the received feedback.

66 . The method of claim 64 , wherein the applying includes controlling a phase difference between two electromagnetic waves at a same frequency to excite a desired resonant mode in the degenerate energy application zone,

67 . The method of claim 66 , further comprising changing weights associated with at least two resonant modes, to cause an angular shift of a field pattern excited by the two electromagnetic waves.

68 . The method of claim 64 , wherein the weight is associated with a time duration over which the electromagnetic energy is applied for exciting the resonant mode.

69 . The method of claim 64 , further including determining the weight to be associated with the at least one resonant mode such that differing amounts of electromagnetic energy are applied to differing predetermined regions in the degenerate energy application zone.

70 . The method of claim 64 , further including controlling at least one of location, orientation, or polarization of at least one radiating element from a plurality of radiating elements located in the degenerate energy application zone.

71 . An apparatus for applying electromagnetic energy to an object in a degenerate energy application zone, comprising:

at least one source of electromagnetic energy;

a degenerate energy application zone; and

at least one processor configured to:

determine weights to be associated with a plurality of resonant modes in the degenerate energy application zone; and

regulate an application of electromagnetic energy, at predetermined frequencies, to excite the plurality of resonant modes based on the determined weights;

wherein at least some of the plurality of resonant modes fall within a common mode family.