Methods for improved transfer efficiency in a multi-dimensional inductive charger

1. A system for improved transfer efficiency in a multi-dimensional charger, comprising:

a base unit having one or more transmitter coils;

a receiver and receiver coil associated with one or more mobile device or battery, skin, case or battery door associated therewith;

a switching layer having magnetic properties and covering the one or more transmitter coils or the receiver coil, so that, during charging or powering of the mobile device, or battery, skin, case or battery door associated therewith, the switching layer is layered either

between the one or more transmitter coils and a surface of the base unit, or

between the receiver coil and a surface of the receiver; and

wherein one or more components are used to modify one or both the magnitude or phase of an electromagnetic field in one or multiple dimensions, including wherein, when the mobile device, or battery, skin, case or battery door having the receiver coil is placed close to the base unit having the one or more transmitter coils, the switching layer's magnetic properties are locally modified, by one or more of a magnetic field of the receiver coil or transmitter coils, or by another magnetic component, to allow power transfer in the particular region of the layer generally aligned both with the one or more transmitter coils and the receiver coil; and

one or more repeater antennas within the base unit, mobile device, battery or additional systems or components, for improving transfer efficiency between the base unit and the mobile device, skin, case or battery door, including wherein the transmitter coils and receiver coil are resonant antennas, and wherein the one or more repeater antennas increase resonance between the transmitter coils and receiver coil, to extend an operable range between the one or more transmitter coils and the receiver coil;

wherein each of the transmitter coils and the receiver coils or receivers includes or is associated with a resonant antenna, and the system further includes one or more repeaters inserted between the transmitter and receiver resonant antennas.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the switching layer acts as a switching layer including a reservoir or guide layer of magnetic flux.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the switching layer includes one or more materials selected from the list consisting of soft iron, silicon steel, laminated materials, silicon alloyed materials, powder iron, hydrogen reduced iron, carbonyl iron, ferrites, vitreous metals, alloys of Ni, Mn, Zn, Fe, Co, Gd, and Dy, nanomaterials, ferrofluids, magnetic polymers, or similar materials or combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the transmitter coil and the receiver coils or receivers includes or is associated with a resonant antenna for coupling and power transfer over a distance.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein a relatively large gap is provided between the charger coil and the charger resonant antenna, with the switching layer close to the charger resonant antenna.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a relatively close gap is provided between the charger coil and the charger resonant antenna and a relatively larger gap between the charger resonant antenna and the switching layer.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the charger coil or switching layer is curved or folded to form a multi-dimensional surface.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more components and the switching layer is used to provide a degree of position independence in charging or powering the one or more devices or batteries.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein

the base unit is provided within an automobile, for use in charging or powering one or more mobile devices within the automobile, or

the mobile device is an automobile that can be charged by a base unit.

10. A method of providing improved transfer efficiency in a multi-dimensional charger, comprising the steps of:

providing a base unit having one or more transmitter coils;

providing a receiver and receiver coil associated with one or more mobile device or battery, skin, case or battery door associated therewith;

providing a switching layer having magnetic properties and covering the one or more transmitter coils or the receiver coil, so that, during charging or powering of the mobile device, or battery, skin, case or battery door associated therewith, the switching layer is layered either

between the one or more transmitter coils and a surface of the base unit, or

between the receiver coil and a surface of the receiver; and

wherein one or more components are used to modify one or both the magnitude or phase of an electromagnetic field in one or multiple dimensions, including wherein, when the mobile device, or battery, skin, case or battery door having the receiver coil is placed close to the base unit having the one or more transmitter coils, the switching layer's magnetic properties are locally modified, by one or more of a magnetic field of the receiver coil or transmitter coils, or by another magnetic component, to allow power transfer in the particular region of the layer generally aligned both with the one or more transmitter coils and the receiver coil; and

providing one or more repeater antennas within the base unit, mobile device, battery or additional systems or components, for improving transfer efficiency between the base unit and the mobile device, skin, case or battery door, including wherein the transmitter coils and receiver coil are resonant antennas, and wherein the one or more repeater antennas increase resonance between the transmitter coils and receiver coil to extend an operable range between the one or more transmitter coils and the receiver coil;

wherein each of the transmitter coils and the receiver coils or receivers includes or is associated with a resonant antenna, and the system further includes one or more repeaters inserted between the transmitter and receiver resonant antennas.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the switching layer acts as a switching layer including a reservoir or guide layer of magnetic flux.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the switching layer includes one or more materials selected from the list consisting of soft iron, silicon steel, laminated materials, silicon alloyed materials, powder iron, hydrogen reduced iron, carbonyl iron, ferrites, vitreous metals, alloys of Ni, Mn, Zn, Fe, Co, Gd, and Dy, nanomaterials, ferrofluids, magnetic polymers, or similar materials or combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein each of the transmitter coil and the receiver coils or receivers includes or is associated with a resonant antenna for coupling and power transfer over a distance.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein a relatively large gap is provided between the charger coil and the charger resonant antenna, with the switching layer close to the charger resonant antenna.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein a relatively close gap is provided between the charger coil and the charger resonant antenna and a relatively larger gap between the charger resonant antenna and the switching layer.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the charger coil or switching layer is curved or folded to form a multi-dimensional surface.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more components and the switching layer is used to provide a degree of position independence in charging or powering the one or more devices or batteries.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein

the base unit is provided within an automobile, for use in charging or powering one or more mobile devices within the automobile, or

the mobile device is an automobile that can be charged by a base unit.