Estimate of the maximum range achievable by non-radiating wireless power transfer or near-field communication systems

Models relating the coupling coefficient of coupled circuits to their physical layout and separation are essentially empirical in nature and have, until very recently, been available exclusively for inductive systems. In this work, we propose elementary models for representing the evolution, with distance, of the coupling coefficient between two dipoles arranged in different configurations. Both the electric and magnetic coupling cases are examined. We demonstrate that in the case of electrically coupled dipoles, with due consideration for specific practical constraints, the coupling coefficient is optimal when the dipoles are asymmetrical and arranged in an axial configuration. We show that the rate of fall of coupling coefficient increases with the relative separation between the dipoles. Finally, a simple formula for estimating the range of all non-radiating resonant power transport devices is proposed. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.