Wireless non-radiative energy transfer

Abstract

Described herein are embodiments of a source high-Q resonator, optionally coupled to an energy source, a second high-Q resonator, optionally coupled to an energy drain that may be located a distance from the source resonator. A third high-Q resonator, optionally coupled to an energy drain that may be located a distance from the source resonator. The source resonator and at least one of the second resonator and third resonator may be coupled to transfer electromagnetic energy from said source resonator to said at least one of the second resonator and third resonator.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A method of transferring electromagnetic energy comprising:
 providing a first resonator structure receiving energy from an external power supply, said first resonator structure has a first Q-factor Q 1 ,   providing a second resonator structure being positioned distal from said first resonator structure and supplying useful working power to an external load, said second resonator structure has a second Q-factor Q 2 ,   transferring non-radiative energy between the first resonator structure and the second resonator structure through coupling of their resonant-field evanescent tails,   wherein the resonator structures use resonant modes of high Q=ω/(2Γ) for low intrinsic-loss rates Γ 1,2  and with evanescent tails significantly longer than the characteristic sizes L 1  and L 2  of the two resonators structures for the non-radiative energy transfer,   characterized in that Q 1 >100, and Q 2 >100, and   κ/sqrt(Γ 1 *Γ 2 )>2, where κ is the coupling rate for the non-radiative energy transfer.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein Q 1 >200, and Q 2 >200. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein Q 1 >500, and Q 2 >500. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the resonant modes cause a strong coupling rate |κ 12,21 | over large distances D between the resonator structures. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein κ/sqrt(Γ 1 *Γ 2 )>5 and D/L 2 >1. 
     
     
         39 . An electromagnetic energy transfer device comprising:
 a first resonator structure receiving energy from an external power supply, said first resonator structure has a first Q-factor Q 1  and is for use together with   a second resonator structure positioned distal from said first resonator structure and supplying useful working power to an external load, said second resonator structure has a second Q-factor Q 2 ,   wherein non-radiative energy transfer between said first resonator structure and said second resonator structure is mediated through coupling of their resonant-field evanescent tails,   wherein the resonator structures use resonant modes of high Q=ω/(2Γ) for low intrinsic-loss rates Γ 1,2 ,   characterized in that Q 1 >100, and Q 2 >100, and   κ/sqrt(Γ 1 *Γ 2 )>2, whereκ is the coupling rate for the non-radiative energy transfer.   
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein Q 1 >200, and Q 2 >200. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein Q 1 >500, and Q 2 >500. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the resonant modes enable high energy transfer efficiency over large distances D between the resonator structures. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein κ/sqrt(Γ 1 *Γ 2 )>5 and D/L 2 >1. 
     
     
         44 . The energy transfer device of  claim 39 , wherein said first resonator structure comprises a capacitively-loaded conducting-wire loop having a characteristic size L 1 , where the characteristic size L 1  is the radius of the loop. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the second resonator structure is part of a mobile wireless receiver comprising the external load. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the mobile wireless receiver is any of a robot, a vehicle, or a computer. 
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the second resonator structure is part of a mobile wireless receiver comprising the external load. 
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the mobile wireless receiver is any of a robot, a vehicle, or a computer. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising applying a feedback mechanism to match the resonance of the first and second resonator structures. 
     
     
         50 . The device of  claim 39 , further comprising a feedback mechanism to match the resonance of the first and second resonator structures. 
     
     
         51 . The device of  claim 39 , further comprising the external power supply from which the first resonator structure receives energy. 
     
     
         52 . The energy transfer device of  claim 40 , wherein said second resonator structure comprises a capacitively-loaded conducting-wire loop having a characteristic size L 2 , where the characteristic size L 2  is the radius of the loop.