Data Transfer Over a Distance

About

Background: Propelled by recent advances in microelectronics, MEMS, and nanotechnologies, the research studies on microsensors have achieved fruitful results. Despite the rapid progress in microsensors and microsensor networks, a critical problem of providing both energy and communication function to each microsensor without wired connections or batteries has not been solved satisfactorily. Recently, a new wireless power transfer technique based on strongly coupled magnetic resonance was described in Science and a patent disclosure was filed by a research team at MIT. The apparatus utilized by this team successfully transmitted a considerable amount of energy over a distance of several feet. However, the existing apparatus does not address the data communication problem and its structure does not allow a substantial minimization for practical application. In this invention, we present new device designs that are not only capable of wireless transfer of both electrical energy and information, but also compact in structure suitable for practical applications. Technology: Novel designed devices for wireless power transfer transmitter and receivers, where both power and information communication can be done.   Applications: * When the laptop, cell phone, media player and other devices are brought into a hot spot, a wireless router will not only transmit/receive information, but also recharge these devices. With such a technology, these personal devices will not need manual recharging, and their batteries can be made smaller since they are recharged more frequently. * In the medical field, microelectronic devices can be implanted within the human body to perform a variety of therapeutic, prosthetic, and diagnostic functions. The deep brain stimulation (DBS) device, for example, is used as a brain implant for treating Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. With the technology described in this invention, the battery replacement surgery can be eliminated since the implanted device will be able to receive energy wirelessly and use it to charge its battery. * With this invention, future wireless sensors can be patched on the skin or the underside of clothes to perform a variety of important tasks, such as monitoring the vital signs and the level of physical activity. These micro devices may also be implanted by either surgery or injection into the inside of the body to perform additional tasks, such as restoring the lost vision, hearing, and motor functions, releasing drugs, and monitoring cancer or cardiovascular diseases.  * In the military, a body sensor network embedded within the clothes is highly desirable since it can potentially produce warning signals of imminent attacks, detect the presence of people or objects of interest, monitor chemicals in the air, evaluate wounds, and communicate with a central station or an assistive device such as a rescue robot. Advantages: 1) This invention enables wireless transmission of both power and data over a longer distance than the traditional methods.  2) The system can be easily implemented in a very compact or a space-saving form.   Stage of Development: * Prototypes made and successfully demonstrated