Development of Ultrasonic Transducer System for Wireless Power Transfer Part 1 : Transmitter Development

Abstract

Recently, wireless power transfer technology is ready to be commercialized in consumer electronics. It draws attention from not only experts but also public because of its convenience and huge market. However, previous technologies such as magnetic resonance and induction coupling have limited applications because of its short transfer distance compared to device size and magnetic intensity limitation on the safety of body exposure. As an alternative, ultrasonic wireless power transfer technology is proposed. The ultrasonic wireless power transfer system is composed of transmitter which converts electrical energy to ultrasonic energy and receiver which converts the ultrasonic energy to the electrical energy again. This paper is focused on the development of high energy conversion efficiency of ultrasonic transmitter. Optimal transfer frequency is calculated based on the acoustic radiation and damping effect. The transmitter is designed through numerical analysis, and is manufactured to match the optimal transfer frequency with the size of 100 mm diameter, 12.2 mm thickness plate. The energy conversion efficiency of about 13.6 % at 2 m distance is obtained, experimentally. This result is quite high considered with the device size and the power transfering distance.