Wireless power transfer promises to revolutionize the way in which we use and power mobile devices. However, low transfer efficiencies prevent this technology from seeing wide scale real-world adoption. The aim of this work is to use quasioptics to develop a system composed of a dielectric lens fed by a phased array to reduce spillover losses, increasing the beam efficiency, while working on the antenna system’s Fresnel zone. The DC-RF electronics, digital beamforming and beam-steering by an FPGA, and radiating 4 × 4 microstrip patch phased array have been developed and experimented upon, while the lens has been designed and simulated. This paper details these preliminary results, where the phased array radiation pattern was measured, showing that the beam is being generated and steered as expected, prompting the lens construction for the complete system experimentation.
By using quasi-optical tools, it is possible to approximate microwave radiation to Gaussian beams, which enables the study of its propagation and coupling to different components. Hence, their usefulness for wireless power transfer and rapid system design. In this paper, a system composed of two reflectors is analyzed both theoretically and by discussing two cases where quasi-optical tools were applied. The near- and far-field regimes were considered and corresponding frequencies of operation, beam radius, and radius of curvature were computed.
The highest beam efficiency in a wireless power transfer (WPT) system that uses focusing components was 51%, using a $$\approx {3}\,{\textrm{m}}$$ ≈ 3 m diameter reflector for a transfer distance of $${7.62}\,{\textrm{m}}$$ 7.62 m . We have beaten that record, and present here a system that surpasses it by 25%. Using the quasioptical framework for reducing spillover losses in WPT, we present a double-reflector system that achieved a higher beam efficiency than the state-of-the-art. The transmitting and receiving antennas were 3D-printed conical smooth-walled horn antennas, specially designed for this purpose. The theoretical analysis enabled the design of a $${5}\,{\textrm{m}}$$ 5 m system, whose energy focus location has been experimentally verified. Then, the complete system was experimented upon, enabling a high beam transfer efficiency of 63.75%. Additionally, the advantage of using quasioptics in radiative wireless power transfer applications is discussed, as well as the sensitivity of its systems. Finally, a comparison with the state-of-the-art is done by the proposal of new figures-of-merit, relating the systems’ physical dimensions and beam efficiency. This research is a paradigm shift by presenting a promising path for future WPT research through quasioptics, whose high efficiencies may enable commercial applications of this technology for solving power supply issues in our society.
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