Mid-Range Wireless Power Transfer and Its Application to Body Sensor Networks

Fei Zhang, Jianbo Liu, Zhihong Mao, Mingui Sun

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Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ojapps.2012.21004                

Abstract

It has been reported that, through the evanescent near fields, the strongly coupled magnetic resonance is able to achieve an efficient mid-range Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) beyond the characteristic size of the resonator. Recent studies on of the relay effect of the WPT allow more distant and flexible energy transmission. These new developments hold a promise to construct a fully wireless Body Sensor Network (wBSN) using the new mid-range WPT theory. In this paper, a general optimization strategy for a WPT network is presented by analysis and simulation using the coupled mode theory. Based on the results of theoretical and computational study, two types of thin-film resonators are designed and prototyped for the construction of wBSNs. These resonators and associated electronic components can be integrated into a WPT platform to permit wireless power delivery to multiple wearable sensors and medical implants on the surface and within the human body. Our experiments have demonstrated the feasibility of the WPT approach.

Keywords

Body Sensor Network; Strongly Coupled Magnetic Resonance; Wireless Power Transfer; Coupled Mode Theory; Relay Effect

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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