System and method for contactless energy transfer to a moving platform
First Claim
1. A contactless energy transfer system comprising:
- a first platform having at least one light source coupled to a power source, the at least one light source configured to emit a light beam directed along a light path in a fixed direction; and
a second platform, separate from the first platform, having at least one photovoltaic module, the at least one photovoltaic module coupled to an energy storage system coupled to the second platform such that light received at the at least one photovoltaic module is converted to electrical energy and stored in the energy storage system, the energy storage system configured to power electrical devices of the second platform, the second platform configured to cause the at least one photovoltaic module to move along a pathway,wherein the first platform includes a receiver unit configured to receive an activation signal, and wherein the at least one light source is configured to be selectively activated, in response to the activation signal, to emit the light beam during a first time period toward the at least one photovoltaic module when the pathway of the at least one photovoltaic module intersects with the light path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A contactless energy transfer system has a first stationary platform and a second movable platform. The first platform has at least one light source coupled to a power source. The second separate platform has at least one photovoltaic module mounted thereon. The at least one photovoltaic module is coupled to an energy storage system mounted on the second platform such that any light received at the photovoltaic module is converted to electrical energy stored in the energy storage system. The second platform is configured to move in close proximity to the first platform along a predetermined pathway. The predetermined pathway may be linear or rotary. The light sources are positioned and configured to direct light at the photovoltaic modules during a predetermined interval when the second platform is in close proximity to the first platform (for the linear pathway) or constantly or at predetermined intervals (for the rotatory pathway).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A contactless energy transfer system comprising:
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a first platform having at least one light source coupled to a power source, the at least one light source configured to emit a light beam directed along a light path in a fixed direction; and a second platform, separate from the first platform, having at least one photovoltaic module, the at least one photovoltaic module coupled to an energy storage system coupled to the second platform such that light received at the at least one photovoltaic module is converted to electrical energy and stored in the energy storage system, the energy storage system configured to power electrical devices of the second platform, the second platform configured to cause the at least one photovoltaic module to move along a pathway, wherein the first platform includes a receiver unit configured to receive an activation signal, and wherein the at least one light source is configured to be selectively activated, in response to the activation signal, to emit the light beam during a first time period toward the at least one photovoltaic module when the pathway of the at least one photovoltaic module intersects with the light path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9)
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7. A contactless energy transfer system, comprising:
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a first platform having at least one light source coupled to a power source, the at least one light source configured to emit a light beam directed along a light path in a fixed direction; and a second platform, separate from the first platform, having at least one photovoltaic module, the at least one photovoltaic module coupled to an energy storage system coupled to the second platform such that light received at the at least one photovoltaic module is converted to electrical energy and stored in the energy storage system, the energy storage system is configured to power electrical devices of the second platform, the second platform configured to cause the at least one photovoltaic module to move along a pathway, wherein the first platform includes a receiver unit configured to receive sensor data from a sensor indicating that the second platform is in close proximity to the first platform, and wherein the at least one light source is configured to be selectively activated, in response to the sensor data, to emit the light beam during a first time period toward the at least one photovoltaic module when the pathway of the at least one photovoltaic module intersects with the light path.
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10. A contactless energy transfer system comprising:
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a first platform having at least one light source coupled to a power source, the at least one light source configured to emit a light beam directed along a light path in a fixed direction; and a second platform, separate from the first platform, having at least one photovoltaic module, the at least one photovoltaic module coupled to an energy storage system coupled to the second platform such that light received at the at least one photovoltaic module is converted to electrical energy and stored in the energy storage system, the energy storage system is configured to power electrical devices coupled to the second platform, the second platform configured to rotate around a fixed axis along a pathway; and wherein the at least one light source is positioned and configured to direct light at the at least one photovoltaic module during rotation of the second platform around the fixed axis when the pathway of the at least one photovoltaic module intersects with the light path. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of contactless energy transfer from a stationary platform to a moving platform, the moving platform configured to move one or more photovoltaic modules along a path, the method comprising:
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receiving an activation signal indicating that the moving platform is in close proximity to the stationary platform; in response to receiving the activation signal, selectively activating one or more light sources coupled to the stationary platform to output a light beam along a light path in a fixed direction when the path of one of the one or more of the photovoltaic modules intersect the light path; receiving light output from the one or more light sources on the stationary platform at the one or more photovoltaic modules coupled to the moving platform; converting the received light to electrical energy at the one or more photovoltaic modules coupled to the moving platform; storing the electrical energy in an energy storage system on the moving platform; and powering electrical devices of the moving platform using the electrical energy stored in the energy storage system. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification