Reconfigurable distributed active wireless charging system

Abstract

A system and method utilizes an array of unit coils for wireless charging and/or near field communication. The array of unit coils can be configured to provide magnetic fields of various shapes to accommodate consuming devices and/or to accommodate types of devices. The array of unit coils can be any type of coils (e.g., eccentric coils that provide a concentrated current field and a strong magnetic field). The array of unit coils can be powered by one or more power sources.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing an array of unit coils for charging a device, comprising:
 providing a plurality of unit coils, each unit coil comprising:
 a first eccentric coil, wherein the first eccentric coil has a center concentrated structure having a first line of symmetry in a first direction; and 
 a second eccentric coil, wherein the second eccentric coil has a center concentrated structure having a second line of symmetry in a second direction, wherein the first eccentric coil is allocated vertically above the second eccentric coil; and 
   arranging the plurality of unit coils into the array.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first direction and second direction are different from each other. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first eccentric coil is disposed on a first printed circuit board substrate and the second eccentric coil is disposed on a second printed circuit board substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first eccentric coil is configured to provide a first magnetic field in a first magnetic direction, and wherein the second eccentric coil is configured to provide a second magnetic field in a second magnetic direction. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the unit coil is configured to provide a combined magnetic field to charge the device by combining the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting one or more unit coils for charging the device according to a relative location of device to the array of unit coils; and   activating the one or more unit coils to provide a combined magnetic field for charging the device.   
     
     
         8 . A magnetic induction device, comprising:
 an array of unit coils configured to generate a magnetic field for charging a device, wherein each unit coil comprises:
 a first eccentric coil configured with a center concentrated structure, and to provide a first magnetic field in a first direction; and 
 a second eccentric coil configured with a center concentrated structure, and to provide a second magnetic field in a second direction. 
   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the first direction and second direction are different from each other. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the first eccentric coil is disposed on a first printed circuit board substrate and the second eccentric coil is disposed on a second printed circuit board substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the array of unit coils is configured to provide a rectangular flux pattern by activating and deactivating selective first eccentric coils and second eccentric coils. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the rectangular flux pattern comprises a plurality of rectangular rings. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the center concentrated structure comprises at least one of a planer rectangular eccentric structure, or a planer circular eccentric structure. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the planer rectangular eccentric structure comprises outside flux lines at least partially arranged in a nonparallel fashion. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the planner rectangular eccentric structure has a line of symmetry and has longer flux lines disposed closely to the line of symmetry. 
     
     
         17 . A magnetic induction device, comprising:
 an array of unit coils configured to generate a magnetic field for charging a device, wherein each unit coil comprising:
 a first eccentric coil comprising a first section and a second section, wherein the first section and the second section are arranged symmetrically according to a first line, wherein the first section and the second section have structures allowing currents concentrated heavily close to the first line. 
   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein unit coil further comprises a second eccentric coil comprising a third section and a fourth section, wherein the third section and the fourth section are arranged symmetrically according to a second line, wherein the third section and the fourth section have structures allowing currents concentrated heavily close to the second line. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the unit coil is provided by disposing the first eccentric coil on top of the second eccentric coil, wherein the first line and the second are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the first eccentric coil is disposed on a first printed circuit board substrate and the second eccentric coil is disposed on a second printed circuit board substrate.