Simultaneous Localization and Power Transfer via Resonant Beam

Abstract

Both high-accuracy localization and power supply for mobile and Internet of Things (IoT) devices are demanding in the next-generation wireless networks. Recently, research on complete localization has been proposed, i.e., capturing the target’s location and identification (ID). However, the existing schemes face challenges, including: 1) improving positioning accuracy without the active emission of signals from the targets and 2) providing sufficient power for the targets to enable features such as ID. In this article, we present a simultaneous localization and power transfer (SLAPT) system relying on the resonant beam system (RBS), which can realize complete, passive, and high-accuracy positioning along with the capability of sufficient power supply. We first establish analytical models to illustrate the principles of power transfer to the target with an open-cavity laser, positioning the target, including Time-of-Flight (ToF) ranging and Angle-of-Arrival (AoA) estimation with the self-reproducing mode theory, wireless charging power conversion, and identifying the target using shutter modulation. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed SLAPT system can achieve less than 1-cm positioning accuracy over 2-m distance in 16° Fields of View (FoVs) with 3-W wireless power supply. The proposed system allows passive and complete localization for the target without battery or power line in various IoT applications.