708

Geometric Approach for Coupling Enhance

of Magnetically Coupled Coils
c. M. Zierhofer,”

Abstract- This paper presents a geometric approach for the

enhancement of the coupling coefficient between two magnetically
coupled coils. It is demonstrated that the coupling coefficient
can be considerably enhanced, if the turns of the coils are not
concentrated at the Circumferences, but distributed across the
diameters. For analysis, each of the two coils is assumed to be
zy
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, VOL. 43, NO. 7, JULY 1996

zyxwvu
Member, IEEE, and E. S. Hochmair, Member, IEEE zyxw
t

primary coil), and thereby reduces the power efficiency, but it

makes the coupling coefficient more insensitive to lateral coil
displacement, as long as the secondary coil remains within
the diameter of the primary coil [3], [8]. This “geometric”
approach aims at directly keeping the coupling coefficient
composed of concentric circular loops. The experimental results constant. However, the coupling coefficient is still sensitive
are in very good agreement with the theoretical results. to variations of the coil separation.
Instead of trying to keep the coupling coefficient itself
I. INTRODUCTION constant, the receiver RF-amplitude can be made insensitive
to varying coil coupling by employing resonant circuits in
NE possibility for transcutaneously providing an im- the transmitter and the receiver, where the coils represent
planted stimulator with power and information is to

zyxwv
the inductances. The characteristics of these resonant circuits
transmit radio frequency (RF)-power via an inductively cou- can be exploited to obtain a sufficiently constant receiver
pled coil system. Such a coil system consists of the primary RF-amplitude within a defined range of coil coupling. This
coil which is outside the body and the secondary coil implanted approach is the one which is most commonly used (e.g.,
with the stimulator. When facing each other, they form a
PI-t41, [61, and U]).
transformer which allows energy transfer from the transmitter Most inductive link designs found in literature employ
to the implant. The distance between the coils essentially de-
two circular coils whose turns are concentrated at the coils’
termines their minimum geometric size, because with respect circumferences. Investigations of the coils’ geometry have ex-
to the efficiency of the power transfer, the coupling coefficient
clusively concentrated on calculating the coupling coefficient

zyxwvut
between the coils has to be sufficiently high. If the coupling is
or the mutual inductance as a function of the ratios of the coil
too low, a higher current in the primary coil has to be used to
diameters and distance parameters [ 3 ] , [5], and [8]. Attempts
provide the same output from the secondary coil. Thus more
to enhance the coil coupling in order to reduce 12R-losses are
power is wasted in the primary coil due to 12R-losses.
limited to the recommendation that ferrite backings be used
A considerable body of knowledge is available for the
design of inductive links including magnetically coupled coils (cf. t41).
The fundamental question examined in this paper is, whether
[ 11-[7]. In medical applications an inductive link should
it is possible to exploit the area within the outer circumferences
usually fulfil two requirements. First, the RF-voltage amplitude
of primary and secondary coils to enhance the coupling
at the secondary coil should be insensitive to variations of
coefficient. It tums out that the coupling coefficient can
the relative position of the coupling coils, since this relative
be significantly improved, if the turns of the coils are not
position is not very well defined. This property, for example, is
concentrated at the outer circumferences, but distributed across
necessary in applications where the RF-voltage at the receiver
the radii. This distribution can be achieved by using single con-
coil is used to derive an implant supply voltage which has
centric circular turns to construct the coils, allowing a closed-
to be kept within particular limits. Second, an optimization
form mathematical calculation of the coupling Coefficient. As
of the efficiency of the power transfer is often desirable.
shown in Fig. 1, primary and secondary coils are composed N ,
However, these two requirements cannot be met independently
and Nb circular coils, respectively. The connection between
of each other. For example, the diameter of the secondary coil
can be so chosen as to be smaller than that of the primary these circular coils is assumed to accomplished in such a way
coil. In general, such selection reduces the coupling at a that:
particular distance between the coils (compared to the case 1) the direction of the current is assumed to be equal in
when the diameter of the secondary coil is equal that of the all the turns of a coil (and thus each turn enhances the
magnitude of the mutual inductance between primary
Manuscript received September 26, 1994; revised February 21, 1996. This and secondary coil), and
work was supported by the Austrian Science Foundation under Grants P9616- 2 ) the overall length of the connection paths is sufficiently
TEC and P10169-OTE. Asterisk indicates corresponding author.
*C. M. Zierhofer is with the Institute of Experimental Physics, University shorter than the geometric dimensions of the coils, so
of Innsbruck, Austria (e-mail: [email protected]). that the influence of the current through the paths on the
E. S. Hochmair is with the Institute of Experimental Physics, University of
Innsbruck, Austria.
self and mutual inductances is negligible.
Publisher Itcm Identifier S 0018-9294(96)04832-X. In practical applications spiral-shaped coils are more useful.
0018-9294/96$05.00 0 1996 IEEE
ZIERHOFER AND HOCHMAIR: GEOMETRIC APPROACH FOR COUPLING ENHANCEMENT OF MAGNETICALLY COUPLED COILS 709

d, distance between the axes p) can be expressed by the single

integral

zyxwv
zy
where Jo and Jl are the Bessel functions of zeroth- and first-
order, respectively, [9]. This expression does not contain the
radius R of the coil’s wire. It is assumed that the ratios
f are sufficiently small (cf. [ 3 ] ) .
and

M ( a ;b, p

where
= 0, d ) = [(: ) zy
For the case of perfect alignment, i.e., p = 0, (2) leads to

- - r;
2
K(r;)- -6E ( & ) ] ( 3 )

and K ( K )and E ( K )are the complete elliptic integrals of the

first and second kind, respectively.
Equation (3) can be used to derive a formula for the self-
inductance of a single circular loop. As shown in [ 101, for the
condition << 1, the self-inductance of such a loop (radius U
and wire-radius R ) can be approximated by
Fig. 1. Geometric arrangement and notation for primary and secondary coils
composed of circular concentric loops.

As mentioned above, primary and secondary coils employed

zyx
However, it is much more complicated to analyze the coupling in an inductive link usually consist of a particular number

zyxwvuts
between spiral-shaped coils. It is assumed that the results of single circular loops of approximately equal diameter. The

zyxwvu
derived in the following approximate the case of spiral-shaped self-inductance of such coils is approximately equal to the
coils sufficiently well. self-inductance of a single loop [as derived in ( 5 ) ] ,multiplied
The enhancement of coupling, as demonstrated in this paper, by the square of the number of turns. For a coil composed of
may be exploited in two ways. Nu concentric circular loops (cf. Fig. 1) with different radii,
1) For given (maximum) sizes of primary and secondary a, (i = I,2 . . . ’ , N a ) , and with wire-radius R, the overall
coils and given self-inductances, an enhancement of self-inductance L, becomes
coupling will reduce the 1’R-losses and thus improve
the power transmission efficiency of the inductive link.

zyxwvutsrqpo
2) For a given coupling coefficient, the size of primary and
secondary coils can be reduced. This property enables

zyxwvutsrq
a reduction of the overall size of an implanted device,

zyxwvutsrq
if the size of the device is determined by the secondary
coil.

11. ANALYSIS
In general, the coupling coefficient k between two magnet-
ically coupled coils is defined as
i=l
N, N,

where 6 ~ =, 1~for i = j , and bz,J = 0 otherwise.

The mutual inductance between primary and secondary
coils, M,b, can be calculated using

zyxwvutsrq
where hfub is the mutual inductance, and L,; L b are the
self-inductances of the coils.
In the following, the relative permeability of the coil mate-
rial and its surrounding medium is assumed to be pT = 1.
Following 191, the mutual inductance of two circular air-
111. COMPUTED RESULTS
Equations (6) and (7) allow the computation of the coupling
coefficient as defined in (1). All calculations have been per-
formed on an IBM-PC using MATLAB (The Mathworks, Inc.,
South Natick, MA). For convenience, the MATLAB notation
is used here for the description of coil configurations. Coil “a”
cored loops whose axes are parallel (radii a and b, coil distance is described by a = [amax:- A: ami,,],where the first and the
710

1
zy
zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZ IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, VOL. 43, NO. 7, JULY 1996

zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQP
zyxwvutsrqponm
zyxwvutsrqp
I 0‘ I
‘0 01 0.2 03 04 0.5 0.6 07 08 09 1 0 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 1

zyxwvutsrqp
d
Coil Distance - Lateral Displacement
a- a-

Fig. 2. Coupling coefficient IC as a function of spacing for various coil (a)

configurations. Primary and secondary coils are assumed to be identical. The

zyxwvuts
normalized wire radius is A = 12.5 * l o p 3 .
amax

third number within the brackets are the radii of the maximum
and minimum loops, respectively, and the second number, A,
is the increment between the radii. With this, a1 = amax

zyxwvutsrqpo
0.7
Y
and C L N ~= amin. For example, coil a = [l: zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA
O.l:O.l]
~ U

denotes coil “a” which is composed of 10 loops with radii 8 08

1,0.9,0.8,...,0.2, and 0.1. 6 05
Fig. 2 depicts the coupling coefficient IC between two iden- M
5
tical coils as a function of the normalized spacing for p = 3 0 4
0. Various coil configurations with different minimum radii 03
s
amin= bmin are considered. The minimum physically possible
02
increment between the windings A = 2R = 0 . 0 2 5 (with ~ ~ ~ ~
wire radius &= 12.5 * lop3) is chosen here (except 01
for the trivial case of the single turn coil configuration.
Obviously, the lowest coupling coefficient is obtained for the vO 01 02 03 0.4 05 0.6 0.7 08 09 1

single turn coil configuration, and the coupling coefficient is Lateral Displacement
increasing for decreasing minimum coil radii. For minimum am

radii smaller than 0.4am,,, the coupling coefficient remains (b)

almost unchanged. Fig. 3. Coupling coefficient as a function of the normalized lateral displace-
The coupling coefficient is not very sensitive to variations ment & for identical primary and secondary coils. In each plot, four coil
of increment A, when radii amaxand aminremain unchanged. configurations = +
amax
= [l], [l: -0.025:0.8], 11:-0.025:0.6],and
For example, when equal maximum and minimum radii as [l: - 0.025:0.4,a%ith increment A = 2R are considered. The normalized
wire radius is = 12.5 * The coil distances are: (a) d = 0.2,
in Fig. 2 are considered, and the increment chosen is A = may alllax
(b) d = 0.5,
4R, the relative deviation from the results shown in Fig. 2 a m a x

is within +0.3% and -2.1%. For A = 8R,the relative

deviation lies between +3.7% and -0.7%. This insensitivity Fig. 3 shows that the coupling is more sensitive to lateral
is a strong indication for the assumption that the coupling displacement for coils with smaller amin,since the coupling
coefficient will also not change very much, if spiral coils (with coefficient is considerably higher at p = 0. The coupling
corresponding minimum and maximum radii) are used instead coefficient of all configurations is about equal at &
= 1.
of coils composed of circular turns. In many practical applications, the lateral displacement can be
Fig. 3(a), (b), and (c) depicts the coupling coefficient be- kept small using positioning magnets in the centre of the coils.
tween two identical coils as a function of the normalized lateral An intuitive explanation of the coupling enhancement of
displacement for three different coil distances &

zyxwvut
= 0.2,0.5, “distributed” coils is given with the help of two equal coils
and 0.8, respectively. In each plot, four coil configurations are a, one primary and one secondary coil. Each of these coils
considered, the single-coil configuration (a = b = amax),and shall be composed of two windings ( N , = 2 ) which are
coils with minimum radii amax = amax = 0.8,0.6, and 0.4. As concentrated most closely to the circumferences, i.e., A = 2R
in Fig. 2, the minimum possible increment A = 2R is chosen. and a = [amax amax- ZR].Self-inductance 150 of coils a
ZlERHOFER AND HOCHMAIR: GEOMETRIC APPROACH FOR COUPLING ENHANCEMENT OF MAGNETICALLY COUPLED COlLS zy 711

zyxwvuts
1

zyxwvutsrq
zyxwvuts
;a = b = 60 m m

09t

zyxwvutsrq
zyxwvutsr
08-

07-
-8
Y

06-
%
6
8 0.5 05-
U

[I : -0.025 : 0.61 V
0.3 [I : -0.025 : 0.81 03

0.2 02

0.1

i
zyxwvutsrqpo I
01

10 20 30 40 50

zyxwvutsrqponmlk
0 0.1 0.2 03 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 ‘ 1
Lateral Displacement p (mm)
Lateral Displacement -!?L
a,, (a)
(C)
1
Fig. 3. (Continued). Coupling coefficient as a function of the 7
normalized

A -
Um.lx
-
a,,
t
lateral displacement
amax
for identical
and secondary coils. In each plot, four coil configurations
1 = [l], 11: - 0.025:0.8], [l: - 0.025:0.6], and
primary

[l: - 0.025:0.43: with increment A = 2R are considered. The normalized

O9
Oat
a=b [60 5 5 50 451 inm

wire radius is -& = 12.5 * The coil distance is: (c) d = 0.8.

zyxwvuts
amax amaX

zyxwvutsr
1
O’gl
zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihg
0.8

07-
5
06-
\
, a = b = [60 55 50 451 mm
a = b = 6 0 mm

46 05-
0; 10 20 30 40 50 60

$ 04L I.atcral 1)isplacernetit p (min)

03- (b)
Fig. 5. Coupling coefficient as a function of the lateral displacement for
02- coil separations d = 10,30, and 60 mm. Solid curves are the theoretical
results, circles indicate experimental data. The wire radius is R = 0.2
01- mm: (a) Single-tum coils a = b = 60 mm and (b) “Distributed’ coils
a = b = [60 55 50 451 mm.
0‘ I
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Coil Distance d (mm)
the effect on Lo will be stronger than on MO,since especially
Fig. 4. Coupling coefficient as a function of the coil distance for coil con- the mutual inductance between the single turns is rapidly
figurations a = b = [GO 55 50 451 mm (upper curve) and a = b = 60
mm (lower curve). Solid curves are the computed results, circles indicate decreasing, and thus the coupling factor ko, as defined above,
experimental data. The wire radius is R = 0.2 mm. is increased.

is calculated with Lo = Lo1 ,502 + +

2M12, where Lol, L o 2 Iv. EXPERIMENTAL
RESULTS
are the self-inductances of the single loops, and Mlz is the The theoretical considerations presented above were verified
mutual inductance between them. If the wire radius R is small by experiment. Measurements were performed with copper
compared to amax,then Lo1 M Lo2 M M n M LOO, and thus coils attached to a construction made of plexiglass. The wire
Lo M 4&0(= N ~ L o o ) . radius was R = 0.2 mm. For measurement, a sinusoidal
With the mutual inductance, MO, between primary and sec- voltage with an amplitude of uo = lV, and a frequency
ondary coils at a particular separation, the coupling coefficient of ,fo = 2 MHz was applied to the primary coil, and the
is simply IC0 = 5
[cf. (l)]. Now the radius of the inner turn voltage at the unloaded secondary coil was dletected. Equal
in both coils is reduced, i.e., a’ = [amax amax- 2Ra],with coil configurations for primary and secondarry coils were
a > 1. This in general will reduce both, MOand Lo. However, investigated. In this case, the coupling coefficient is simply
 zyxwvutsrq
zyxwvu
zyxwvutsrqpon
712 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, VOL. 43, NO. 7, JULY 1996

zyxwvutsrqpon
TABLE I The overall loaded qualities, Qi, are defined via the relation
DISTRIBUTEDCOILCONFIGURATIONS
WITH amax = 12 mm TO IMPLEMEXT
L A = 0.88 pH ( R = 0.125mm)
COILSWITH SELF-INDUCTANCE
Wire Length Relative Unloaded
Number of Turns
Radius Quality Reduction
n=, (“1 1, (mm)
lQLi%) where the qualities Q R and
~ Q L represent
~ the qualities of the
4 11.25 294 0 resonant circuits either exclusively due to resistances Ri, or
5 9.11 337 - 12.8 exclusively due to resistances R,,, respectively. Qualities Q L ~
6 6.79 365 - 19.5 are often called the unloaded qualities of the coils.
7 4.79 384 -23.4
Following [3], efficiency ~ 1 1 2 as the ratio between the
8
9
3.09
1.66
397
407
-25.9
-27.8

equal to the amplitude ratio of secondary and primary voltage

(this can be easily verified by using the T-equivalent circuit
consumption is given by

712 =
1
I
zyxwv
power delivered to the receiver circuit and the overall power

1 (1 1)

of two coupled coils). where k is the coupling coefficient. For this equation it is
Fig. 4 depicts the coupling coefficient as a function of the assumed that the system is operated at the center frequency,
coil distance for p = 0. Two coil configurations a = b = i.e., lu‘ = W O .
[BO 55 50 451 mm and a = b = 60 mm are investigated. Within the receiver circuit, the power is split up between the
As expected, a considerably enhanced coupling coefficient is load, R2, and the parallel coil resistor, Rp2. This is described
obtained for the “distributed” coils. For example, at d = $0 by efficiency 7722 defined as
mm, the coupling for the “nondistributed” and “distributed” 1 1
coils are knondlst = 0.109 and kdlst = 0.184, respectively
(theoretical values), which means an enhancement by 68.8%.
The experimental data are in very good agreement with the with Q R and
~ Q L from~ (10). Thus, the overall efficiency,
theoretical results. 7,as the ratio between the power in load R2 and the overall
Fig. 5 shows the coupling coefficient as a function of the power consumption is given by
lateral displacement for various coil distances d = 10.30, and
60 mm. Again, the values measured are very close to the 77 = 7127722
1 1
calculated results.

zyxwvu
-

(p++(k+&)(k+&))
(I+%).
V. DISCUSSION (13)

zy
In the previous sections of this paper it has been shown that Obviously, efficiency 7 keeps increasing with increasing
distributing the turns of coils across the radii considerably coupling coefficient k , and therefore any coupling enhance-
enhances the coupling coefficient. The question arises, how ment-at a particular coil separation-results in an improved
this improvement can be exploited in practical applications, efficiency. It can also be seen that for a high efficiency the
either to enhance the power transfer efficiency, or to reduce unloaded qualities Q L ~ should he as high as possible. As
the geometric size of the coils.

power and data transfer as shown in Fig. 6(a). This link

consists of a parallel tuned transmitter and a parallel tuned
receiver circuit, which are magnetically coupled. Resistor RI
represents the output resistance of the RF-amplifier driving
the link, and resistor Rz is the load. Resistors Rsl and Rsz
are the series resistances of transmitter and receiver coils,
zyxwvu
Let us consider a typical inductive link for transcutaneous
suggested in this paper, a coupling enhancement is achieved
by using “distributed” coils. However, the distribution of
the coil windings across the radii results in a particular
reduction of the unloaded qualities. This is because the wire
lengths necessary to achieve a particular inductance for the
“distributed” coils-and with it the series resistances-are
somewhat greater than for coils, where the windings are
concentrated at the circumferences. Looking at (8) and (10)
respectively. For convenience, circuit Fig. 6(a) is rearranged it can be seen, that the series resistances are inversely
as shown in Fig. 6(b), where the coil losses are represented proportional to the unloaded qualities. The wire length I ,
by the parallel resistors Rpl and Rp2. Series-and parallel coil of coil a composed of N , turns can be calculated by
resistances are related via
N,
I , = 27r a2 + 2(am,, - a m i n ) .‘ . (14)
i=l

with angular frequency w , and index i = 1 , 2 . where the term 2( amax- amin)represents the overall wire
The center frequency W O : w01 : woz of transmitter and length necessary to connect the circular turns of the coil with
receiver resonant circuits is defined as each other. A typical example is demonstrated with the help
of Table I. Coil a = [la:- 0.25: 11.251 mm with R = 0.125
mm is composed of N , = 4 turns which are concentrated
most closely to the circumference (outer radius: amax = 12
ZIERHOFER AND HOCHMAIR: GEOMETRIC APPROACH FOR COUPLING ENHANCEMENT OF MAGNETICALLY COUPLED COILS 713

zyxwvutsrqponmlk
zyxwvutsrq
(b)
Fig. 6. (a) Circuit diagram of an inductive RF-link and (b) approximated circuit

mm, inner radius: amin = 11.25 mm). The resulting self- alizable) “concentration” of turns and shows-at

zy
inductance is L, = 0.88 pH. The same self-inductance can
be achieved with N , = 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , or 9 turns (first column),
where the distances between the turns are increasing and the
minimum radii a m i n are decreasing (second column). Columns
3 and 4 depict the resulting wire lengths [according to (14)]
and the relative reduction of the unloaded quality AQL in
percent referred to the coil composed of four turns.
least for the present example-the greatest possible
improvement of “distributed” coils compared to
“concentrated” coils. In this case, the wire length
is N * 12 * 2 * T = 267 mm, which means a
length reduction of Al, = -8.8% and thus a
slight enhancement of the unloaded (qualitiesQ L =
Q L= ~Q L= &
~ = 87.9. The overall efficiency
is clearly below the efficiencies of ICases 1 and 2.

zyxwvutsrqpo
To summarize, “distributed’ coils yield, on the one hand,
an increased coupling between transmitter and receiver coils, At d = 10 mm, 7 = 0.45 in Case 3, which means
but reduce the unloaded qualities on the other. Nevertheless, a an efficiency reduction of - 13.5% referred to the
net improvement of the overall efficiency can be obtained, corresponding efficiency in Case 1.

zyxwvutsr
as demonstrated with the help of Fig. 7. Here, the overall So far, only the overall efficiency of the power transfer
of the inductive link Fig. 6 has been considered. The ideas

zyx
efficiency 7 is computed for three different implementations
of transmitter and receiver coils (for each case, transmitter presented in this paper may also be exploited to reduce the

zyxwvutsrqp
and receiver coils are identical (a = b) with inductances overall size of transmitter and receiver coils in applications,
La = Lb = 0.88 pH (wire radius R = 0.125 mm). The where the voltage at the receiver coil has to be mensitive
qualities are chosen Q n l = 20 and QRZ = 5. to coupling variations. Following [ 3 ] , a maximum of the
Case 1: Coils with amax = 12 mm, amin = 11.25 mm receiver voltage as a function of coupling coefficient 5 occurs
composed of N , = 4 turns are assumed (cf. first at “critical coupling,” i.e., when k d m equals one. At
row in Table I), and the unloaded qualities are critical coupling, efficiency 712 = 0.5 (note, ithat 7 1 2 is the
efficiency of the power transfer from the transmitter to the
assumed to be Q L = Q L = ~ Q L Z = 80.
receiver circuit). Assuming the same circuit pammeters as in
Case 2: Coils with the same inductances as in Case 1,
Case 1 of above (i.e., La = LI, = 0.88 ,uH, R = 0.125 mm,
but with N , = 6 turns (third row in Table I) are
Q R ~= 20, Qnz = 5, and coils with amax = b,, = 12
selected, resulting in increased wire-lengths of the
mm, amln = b,, = 11.25 mm, N, = 4 , Q L = SO),
coils and thus in reduced unloaded qualities Q L =
critical coupling occurs at a distance dc,,t = 10.8 mm. The
Q L = ~ Q L= ~ 80 * 0.805 = 64.4. Nevertheless,
same distance for critical coupling and thus for efficiency
the overall efficiency is considerably higher than
in Case 1. For example, at d = 10 mm, 7 = 0.52
vla = 0.5 is achieved for coils aInax= b,, = 10.3 mm,
umln = b,,, = 6.8 mm, N , = 6. This means that the
in Case 1, and rl = 0.61 in Case 2, which means
outer radii can be reduced from 12 mm to 10.3 mm, which
a relative improvement of 17.3%. corresponds to a size reduction of the coils by -14%.
Case 3: Here the calculation of 7 is based on a coupling co-
efficient k derived from single turn coils with radii
a = b = 12 mm. It is assumed that for both coils VI. CONCLUSION
N = 3.55 turns are concentrated at the same radius This paper presents a geometric approach for enhancing
to achieve equal inductances as in Cases 1 and 2. the coupling between two magnetically coupled coils. This
This assumption might be of theoretical interest, enhancement is achieved by distributing the turns of the coils
since it represents the most extreme (but nonre- across the radii instead of concentrating them at the outer
 zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihg
714 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, VOL. 43, NO. 7, JULY 1996

zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfe
IF-----
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zyxwvutsrqponml
09

zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVU
tlectromagnetic energy transfer through a closed chest wall,” in IRE
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r=
9
c
0

3
zyxwvutsrqponml
zyxwvutsrqponmlkji
07

zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihg
06-

05-

04-
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M. Soma, D. C. Galbraith, and R. L. White, “Radio-frequency coils
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IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng., vol. BME-34, pp. 276-282, Apr. 1987.
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zyxw
0‘
link,’‘ IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng., vol. 37, pp. 716-722, July 1990.
5 10 15 20 25 N. de N. Donaldson and T. A. Perkins, “Analysis of resonant coupled
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Eng. Coinput., vol. 21, pp. 612-627, 1983.

zyxwvutsrqpon
Fig. 7. Overall efficiency 7) as a function of coil separation d . For all cases, F. C. Flack, E. D. James, and D. M. Schlapp, “Mutual inductance of
transmitter and receiver coils are identical, and L , = Lb = 0.88 p H (wire air-cored coils: Effect on design of RF-coupled implants,” Med. Biol.
radius R = 0.125 mm), and qualities Q R ~ = 20 and C ) R ~= 5. Case 1: Eng.. vol. 9. pp. 79-85, 1971.
amax= b,n,, = 12 mm, amin = b,n;n = 11.25 mm, .Ya = 4. Q L = 80.0: L. Hannakam, “Berechnung der Gegeninduktivitat achsenparalleler
Case 2: arrlax = h, = 12 mm, amin = brrlin E G.79 mm, .Ya = 6. Zylinderspulen,” Archivfiir Elektrotechnik, vol. 51, no. 3, pp. 141-154,
Q L = 64.4; Case 3:amaX= h, =ni,“ = b,,, = 12 mm, = 3..>.5. 1967.
&I, = 87.9. W. Greiner, Theoretische Physik, vol. 3. Frankfurt am Main: H.
Deutsch, 1991.

circumferences. As shown in Section 111 for identical primary

and secondary coils, for given maximum and minimum coil
radii, the coupling of distributed coils is insensitive to the C. M. Zierhofer (M’91) was born in Innsbruck,
spacing between the windings of the coils. Thus, in practical Austria, in 1962. He received the DipLIng. and
applications, the self-inductances can be chosen according to Dr.Techn. degrees in electrical engineering from the
Technical University of Vienna, Austria, in 1985 and
the requirements of the link, relatively independent from the 1989, respectively.
coupling coefficient. In 1986 he joined the Institute of Experimen-
The price paid for such a coupling enhancement are mod- tal Physics, University o f Innsbruck, Austria. His
research interests include cochlear implant design,
erate decreases of the unloaded qualities of the coils due to analog and digital signal processing, and RF-power
increased wire lengths (assuming equal inductances and equal amplifiers.
outer radii of concentrated and distributed coils). Typically,
the unloaded qualities are reduced by about 20%. However, in
most applications, the coils are parts of transmitter and receiver
resonant circuits. If the unloaded qualities are sufficiently high Erwin S. Hochmair (M’83) was born in Vienna,
compared to loaded qualities, the effect of coupling enhance- Austria, in 1940. He received the DipLIng. and
ment on the overall efficiency q predominates over the effect Dr.Tech. degrees in electrical engineering from the
Technical University of Vienna, Austria, in 1964 and
of unloaded quality reduction and thus a net improvement of 1967, respectively.
overall efficiency is obtained. In 1965, he joined the Institute for Physical Elec-
The results presented here are calculated for identical pri- tronics, Technical University of Vienna, Austria.
From 1970 to 1972, he was with the NASA Marshall
mary and secondary coil. However, the formulas derived can Space Flight Center, AL, as a Research Associate.
be applied for arbitrary coil configurations. During 1979, he was a Visiting Associate Professor
Some experiments have been performed to verify the theo- at Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Since 1986,
he has been a Full Professor at the Institute of Experimental Physics at the
retical results. The experimental data are in very good agree- Universitv of Innsbruck. Austria. His current research interests are circuit
ment with the Dredicted values. design, signal processing, and cochlear implant design