IP Library Granted Patent US 11,368,049
Granted Patent B2
US 11,368,049 · App. 17/099,904 · Granted Jun 21, 2022

Electrodynamic wireless power receiver

Inventors: David Patrick Arnold (Gainesville, FL); Alexandra Garraud (Gainesville, FL); Nicolas Garraud (Gainesville, FL)
Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
H02J50/005H01L41/042H01L41/06H02J50/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,368,049
App. No.
17/099,904
Granted
Jun 21, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for electrodynamic wireless power receivers. In some examples, a wireless power receiver electromechanically converts energy from a magnetic field. The wireless power receiver includes a planar suspension structure and at least one magnet. The planar suspension structure is tuned to cause oscillation of the at least one magnet at a resonance frequency based on a frequency of the time-varying magnetic field to generate electrical energy in the wireless power receiver.

Claims (29)

1. A wireless power transfer system, comprising:

a transmitter that generates a time-varying magnetic field; and

a receiver that converts energy from the time-varying magnetic field using electromechanical conversion, wherein the receiver comprises:

a magnet platform suspended by a planar suspension comprising at least two connection points to a frame surrounding the planar suspension; and

at least one spacer that connects at least one magnet to the magnet platform and provides clearance between the at least one magnet and the planar suspension to allow oscillation, wherein the at least one magnet extends beyond a perimeter of the magnet platform and over the planar suspension,

wherein a shape of the planar suspension is tuned to cause the oscillation of the at least one magnet at a resonance frequency based on a frequency of the time-varying magnetic field, and wherein the oscillation of the at least one magnet generates electrical energy in the receiver.

2. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1 , wherein the receiver further comprises a receiver coil, and the oscillation of the at least one magnet induces electrical energy in the receiver coil.

3. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1 , wherein the oscillation comprises a torsional oscillation about an axis and wherein a direction of magnetization of the at least one magnet is orthogonal to the axis.

4. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1 , wherein the planar suspension further comprises piezoelectric material, and wherein the oscillation of the at least one magnet produces electrical energy using the piezoelectric material.

5. The wireless power transfer system of claim 1 , wherein the shape of the planar suspension is a serpentine shape.

6. The wireless power transfer system of claim 5 , wherein the oscillation comprises a torsional oscillation about an axis, and a longest member of the serpentine shape is parallel to the axis.

7. The wireless power transfer system of claim 6 , wherein the oscillation comprises a translational oscillation orthogonal to the axis.

8. A wireless power receiver for electromechanical conversion of energy from a time-varying magnetic field, the wireless power receiver comprising:

a magnet platform connected to a planar suspension structure comprising a suspension comprising at least two connection points to a frame surrounding the suspension; and

at least one magnet attached to the magnet platform, wherein the at least one magnet extends beyond a perimeter of the magnet platform and is suspended a distance over the planar suspension structure, wherein the planar suspension structure is tuned to cause oscillation of the at least one magnet at a resonance frequency based on a frequency of the time-varying magnetic field, and wherein the oscillation of the at least one magnet generates electrical energy in the wireless power receiver using electromechanical conversion.

9. The wireless power receiver of claim 8 , wherein a magnet alignment structure secures the at least one magnet to a platform of the planar suspension structure using at least one of mechanical interference, glue, and epoxy.

10. The wireless power receiver of claim 8 , wherein the frame, the platform, and the suspension are aligned in a plane.

11. The wireless power receiver of claim 8 , wherein the planar suspension structure comprises a piezoelectric material, and wherein the oscillation of the at least one magnet produces electrical energy using the piezoelectric material.

12. The wireless power receiver of claim 8 , wherein the suspension comprises a meander shape.

13. The wireless power receiver of claim 8 , wherein the oscillation comprises a torsional oscillation about an axis.

14. The wireless power receiver of claim 8 , wherein the oscillation comprises a translational oscillation.

15. The wireless power receiver of claim 8 , wherein the planar suspension structure comprises at least one of silicon, steel, stainless steel, spring steel, and titanium.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving, in a receiver, energy from a time-varying magnetic field, wherein the receiver comprises a planar suspension and a magnet attached to a magnet platform comprising at least two connection points to a frame surrounding the planar suspension, wherein the magnet extends beyond a perimeter of the magnet platform and is elevated over the planar suspension; and

converting the energy from the time-varying magnetic field to electrical energy in the receiver, wherein a shape of the planar suspension causes oscillation of the magnet to generate the electrical energy in the receiver.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising generating the time-varying magnetic field using a transmitter coil.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the magnet platform comprises a magnet alignment structure that secures the magnet using mechanical interference.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the planar suspension is aligned in a plane of a continuous planar suspension structure comprising the planar suspension, the frame, and the magnet platform.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the oscillation comprises a torsional oscillation about an axis and wherein a longest member of the planar suspension is perpendicular to the axis.

Assignments (3)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Oct 10, 2024
From: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
To: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 069138/0274 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jun 1, 2023
From: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
To: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 063827/0154 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2021
From: ARNOLD, DAVID PATRICK; GARRAUD, ALEXANDRA; GARRAUD, NICOLAS
To: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
Reel/Frame 057068/0250 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part PCTUS2019027859 · Apr 17, 2019
Provisional Application 62673350 · May 18, 2018
Related Publication 20210075266A1 · Mar 11, 2021