Tuning Wireless Power Receivers for Maximum Efficiency

Category: Science & Technology
Posted: May 16, 2012 12:25PM
Author: Guest_Jim_*

Most people like everything around them being well ordered, because it looks better, so a multitude of devices are going wireless to get rid of messy cables. Wireless phones and wireless networks are two well-known examples, but wireless power is the next thing people are looking for. Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) systems are not easy to maintain though because temperature changes and magnetic fields can cause the transmitter and receiver to shift out of tune.

These WPT systems work by creating a magnetic field with a specific frequency. When the field interacts with the receiver an electric current is created. If the receiver is in tune with the transmitter though the resonance is amplified greatly, and actually makes the system viable, compared to the current created without resonance. Keeping in tune is very difficult though because of how much can affect the system, but researchers at North Carolina State University have found a way to correct this.

The researchers added circuitry to the receiver to keep it in tune by adding some power to it. This will keep the receiver at its original frequency and allow it to adapt to changes in the transmitter's frequency. By keeping the power output at their maximum, this may allow wireless charging for electric vehicles, as well as other devices.

• Email Link
• Print News

This news has comment postings disabled because it is now archived.