Microwave Wireless Power Transfer: History, Use, and Systems

This report provides an overview of microwave wireless power transfer (WPT), tracing its origins back to Nikola Tesla and highlighting its development through World War II to its current applications in micro consumer devices and the Internet of Things (IoT). It discusses the fundamental principles of WPT, including electromagnetic wave systems, resonant induction, and inductive coupling, while emphasizing the importance of achieving large air gaps, high efficiency, and high power for effective technology adoption. The report also touches on the history of microwave telecommunications, from early demonstrations in the English Channel to the development of transcontinental systems and communication satellites. It includes a system block diagram illustrating the mechanism applied in wireless power transfer systems and concludes with references to relevant research papers.

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Microwave Wireless Power Transfer
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Introduction
Concept History
The concept of wireless power transmission with microwave frequencies was first
demonstrated by Nikola Tesla [1]. The idea of WPT emerges 100 years ago during the world war
11 when there was a countrywide televised show of helicopter that was powered by microwave
in the Spencer Laboratory of Raytheon Co. During the 19th century, scientists were looking for
various ways to transfer power from one point to another without causing any harm [2]. World
war 11 had created the environment to be hazardous making it dangerous and insufficient for
power transfer. The technology of WPT was fundamental since it allowed transfer of power in a
dangerous situation that was caused by the world war 11. WPT played a critical role in
changing the direction within which the technology was being developed thereby significantly
expanding the technology base. Additionally, technology was vital since it allowed for devices to
be charged without being plugged into a socket. Over the past decades, and with the current
analogy, it is depicted that the use of Wireless power transmission, in most cases utilizes
electromagnetic wave systems, resonant induction as well as inductive coupling. Notably, the
adoption of the wireless technology has made it possible to transmit and distribute power to
various places including those areas which had difficulty in utilizing the conventional wire
system. The current study has shown that widely applied technologies in line with the Wireless
power transmission are the microwave power and the electromagnetic induction.
Conversely, the inductive coupling has not been fully adopted as this method is still in the
research and developmental stage. However, for the effective application and adoption of the
technology, it has to fulfill three set conditions. These conditions mainly include large air gap,
high efficiency as well as the high power. Furthermore, it is important to note that the microwave

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power system in most cases has the decisive low capability [1]. Thus, when adopted and applied
in the system with near field power then there is the likelihood that the overall method will be
inefficient. The inefficiency mainly comes as a result of electromagnetic waves radiation
involvement. On the other, the application of electric field coupling in the Wireless power
diffusion has imminent inductively loaded as well as an electrical dipole
History of the Product
The product is typically traced back to 1931 when the first demonstration on the microwave
telecommunication was carried out in English Channel. However, the World War II offered an
opportunity for the radar development which was used to improve the microwave systems.
Transcontinental systems and relays were later developed in 1950s and these systems were
essentially used television and telephone traffic transfers over relay distances connecting various
cities. The peak of the product development mainly denoted in 1960s with the adoption of the
microwave communication satellites which took over the relay distance systems [2].
Current Use-ability
The current application and utilization of the wireless power transfers mainly include actuators,
abandoned sensors as well as used in the micro consumer devices. In essence, the micro-
consumer devices primarily utilize the internet of things also known as (IoT). Thus, the diagram
below shows the mechanism applied in the wireless power transfer system.

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System block diagram showing the mechanism applied in the wireless power transfer system [1]

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References
[1]B. A and R. L, Wireless Power Transmission: An Obscure History, Possibly a Bright Future..
2016, pp. Physics 464: Applied Optics, 1-15.
[2]T. N, "The transmission of electrical energy without wires as a means for furthering peace.",
Electrical World and Engineer,, pp. 1, 21-21, 2013.