Spatial modulation module consisting of a microstrip array antenna and dual scatterers for wireless power transmission

A simultaneous long-distance wireless transmission both of electric power and information is one of the key solutions in the future smart grid systems. Until now, a few systems with a wireless modulated power beam have been reported on this issue [1]. However, since peak-average power ratios for the modulated beam are usually very large, the efficiency for power transmission has remained very low. To overcome this basic problem, a principle of the spatial modulation (SM) method with controlled scatterers has been proposed by the present authors [2], [3]. In the proposed method, a modulation of the transmission coefficient of the channel is carried out only for a sidelobe of the main power transmission beam without degrading power transmission efficiency. If a receiver for SM communication is located in the null direction of the power transmitting array antenna, the modulation factor realized by a SM modulator may be maintained without modification, regardless of the power transmission beam. Although this idea has already been explained, SM performance has only been estimated using a horn antenna instead of an array antenna for the transmitting antenna.