The Invention Science Fund I LLC

Searete LLC

University of Washington

Elwha LLC

Daniel Arnitz

Guy Shlomo Lipworth

Joseph Hagerty

Matthew Stephen Reynolds

Yaroslav Aleksandrovich Urzhumov

Russell J Hannigan

Clarence T Tegreene

Lawrence Frederick Arnstein

Jeffrey A Bowers

David R Nash

Lowell L Wood, Jr

Roderick A Hyde

Edward K Y Jung

Nathan P Myhrvold

David R Smith

Seyedmohammadreza Faghih Imani

Patrick Bowen

Andreas Pedross-Engel

Yaroslav A Urhumov

Joseph A Hagerty

Examples of active millimeter-wave imaging systems are described which may utilize modulation schemes to provide illumination signals. The use of modulation techniques may allow for the use of direct-conversion receivers while retaining an ability to separate desired received signal from self-jamming and/or DC offset signal(s) generated by the direct-conversion receivers. In some examples, modulation schemes include the use of balanced orthogonal codes which may support MIMO or massive MIMO imaging systems.

Millimeter wave imaging systems and methods using direct conversion receivers and/or modulation techniques

According to various embodiments, an array of elements forms an artificially-structured material. The artificially-structured material can also include an array of tuning mechanisms included as part of the array of elements that are configured to change material properties of the artificially-structured material on a per-element basis. The tuning mechanisms can change the material properties of the artificially-structured material by changing operational properties of the elements in the array of elements on a per-element basis based on one or a combination of stimuli detected by sensors included in the array of tuning mechanisms, programmable circuit modules included as part of the array of tuning mechanisms, data stored at individual data stores included as part of the array of tuning mechanisms, and communications transmitted through interconnects included as part of the array of elements.

Artificially-structured materials with smart elements

Systems and methods are described herein for providing wireless power to a mobile device, such as an aerial mobile device like an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A navigational constraint model may prescribe a navigation path along which a wireless power transmission system can provide wireless power to the mobile device. Deviations from the prescribed path may require the mobile device to self-power. The prescription of a navigation path allows for the use of reduced-complexity wireless power transmitters that are fully capable of servicing the prescribed path. Multiple embodiments of prescribed paths with various limitations and features are set forth herein, along with multiple embodiments of wireless power transmission systems of reduced complexity and functionality to fully service the various embodiments of prescribed paths.

Wireless power transfer along a prescribed path

The present technology pertains to a system and method of operation of a metamaterial phase shifter having various use applications. In one aspect of the present disclosure, a phase shifter includes a network of tunable impedance elements and a controller. The controller is coupled to the network of tunable impedance elements and configured to receive a phase shift input value and determine a corresponding tuning voltage to be supplied to each tunable impedance element of the network of tunable impedance elements based on the phase shift input value, the network of tunable impedance element being configured to shift a phase of an input signal based on tuning voltages supplied to the network of tunable impedance elements by the controller.

Metamaterial phase shifters

An embodiment of an antenna configured to form a high-power beam, such as a battery-charging beam, includes a transmission structure, signal couplers, amplifiers, and antenna elements. The transmission structure (e.g., a waveguide) is configured to carry a reference signal (e.g., a traveling reference wave), and each of the signal couplers is configured to generate a respective intermediate signal in response to the reference signal at a respective location along the transmission structure. Each of the amplifiers is configured to amplify, selectively, an intermediate signal from a respective one of the couplers, and each of the antenna elements (e.g., conductive patches) is configured to radiate a respective elemental signal in response to an amplified intermediate signal from a respective one of the amplifiers. In operation, the elemental signals interfere with one another to form a transmission beam, such as a battery-charging, or other high-power, transmission beam.

Waveguide-backed antenna array with distributed signal amplifiers for transmission of a high-power beam

An embodiment of an antenna array includes a cavity, signal couplers, and antenna elements. The cavity is configured to reinforce a reference signal (e.g., a standing reference wave) having a wavelength &#x3bb;, and each of the signal couplers is configured to generate a respective intermediate signal in response to the reference signal at a respective location of the cavity. And each of the antenna elements (e.g., conductive patches) is configured to radiate a respective elemental signal in response to an intermediate signal from a respective one of the signal couplers. In operation, the elemental signals interfere with one another to form a transmission beam. Controlling the cavity to introduce phase differences between the antenna elements can allow a wider pitch between adjacent antenna elements without the need for large, costly phase shifters, where the pitch can approach its theoretical limit of approximately &#x3bb;/

Cavity-backed antenna array with distributed signal amplifiers for transmission of a high-power beam

System and methods are described herein for providing wireless power to a target device, such as a laptop computer, a mobile phone, a vehicle, robot, or an unmanned aerial vehicle or system (UAV) or (UAS). A tunable multi-element transmitter may transmit electromagnetic radiation (EMR) to the target device using any of a wide variety of frequency bands. A location determination subsystem and/or range determination subsystem may determine a relative location, orientation, and/or rotation of the target device. For a target device within a distance range for which a smallest achievable waist of the Gaussian beam of the EMR at an operational frequency is smaller than the multi-element EMR receiver of the target device, a non-Gaussian beamform may be determined to increase efficiency, decrease overheating, reduce spillover, increase total power output of rectenna receivers on the target device, or achieve another target power delivery goal.

Non-Gaussian beamforming for wireless power transfer optimization

According to various embodiments, systems and methods for wirelessly transmitting energy to a moving wireless power receiver in a network of interlinked prescribed paths. A position of a wireless power receiver in a network of interlinked prescribed paths is tracked as the wireless power receiver traverses one or more prescribed paths in the network of interlinked prescribed paths. Energy is wirelessly transmitted from one or more wireless power transmitters to the wireless power receiver based on the position of the wireless power receiver in the network of interlinked prescribed paths. Specifically, the energy is wirelessly transmitted to the wireless power receiver based on the position of the wireless power receiver in the network of interlinked prescribed paths as the wireless power receiver traverses the one or more prescribed paths in the network of interlinked prescribed paths.

Wireless energy transfer systems for networks of interlinked prescribed paths

Examples described herein utilize a backscatter signal provided by a wirelessly powered device to estimate channel information, (e.g., a channel transfer function) between the wirelessly powered device and a transmitter system. The channel information may be used to optimize MIMO power transfer for linear as well as nonlinear backscatter devices. Examples of die method 'may shift some or all of the power cost and complexity of coherent channel measurements from the WFD to the transmitters), and allow WPT optimization to milliwatt- or microwatt-class wirelessly powered devices.

Wireless power systems including determination of channel transfer function from backscatter signals

Systems and methods are provided for various tunable multi-timescale wireless rectification systems. Tunable multi-timescale wireless rectification systems may include multiple feedback control loops, systems, or sub-systems that modify characteristics of components of a wireless rectification system on various timescales. A wireless rectification system may include antennas, impedance-matching components, rectifying devices, DC-to-DC converters, and/or load controllers. Two or more feedback controls may function on different timescales to modify one or more characteristics or functionalities of components of the wireless rectification system in response to monitored AC and/or DC power values at various locations within the wireless rectification system. Feedback controls operating on various timescales may include antenna feedback controls, impedance feedback controls, rectifying feedback controls, and/or DC feedback controls.

Dynamic rectifier circuits with multiple-order timescale feedback controls

According to various embodiments, a moving wireless power receiver is configured to receive power wirelessly based on a prescribed path of the wireless power receiver. A prescribed path that a moving wireless power receiver traverses is identified. Further, at least one element of the wireless power receiver is controlled based on the prescribed path to change an amount of power received at the wireless power receiver from incident power transmitted by one or more wireless power transmitters. Specifically, the at least one element can be controlled to change the amount of power received at the wireless power receiver as either or both a posture and a position of the wireless power receiver change with respect to the one or more wireless power transmitters as the wireless power receiver traverses the prescribed path.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Daniel Arnitz