Resonant frequency tuning system for repeater resonator of resonant inductive coupling wireless power transfer

The resonant inductive coupling wireless power transfer (RIC-WPT) is a promising technique of the wireless power transfer with comparatively large power and high efficiency. However, the performance of RIC-WPT system is generally highly dependent on the fine adjustment of the resonant frequency between the transmitter, receiver, and repeater resonators, although the natural tolerance of the capacitor and inductance of the coil may easily lead to the significant detuning of the resonant frequency. Particularly, the repeater resonator is the key item that can improve the power transfer to a distantly located receiver resonator. However, the repeater resonator tends to have a high quality-factor; and therefore, its performance can be easily deteriorated by the detuning of the resonant frequency. The purpose of this paper is to propose a simple automatic resonant frequency tuning system for the repeater resonator as a remedy for the performance deterioration due to the resonant frequency detuning. The operation of the automatic resonant frequency tuning system was experimentally tested using the prototype wireless power transfer system. The result exhibited robust power transfer capability regardless of the natural tolerance of the resonant frequency.