Wireless power distribution systems and methods

• US 10,418,842 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2017
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nant Holdings IP, LLC (NantWorks, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Patrick Soon-Shiong
• Inventors: Soon-Shiong, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ortiz, Elim
• Application Number:
  US15/707,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20180006502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 11/007 characterised by the means for transmitting light into the interior of a building
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/032 the solar unit being separate from the lighting unit
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/12 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0543 comprising light concentrating means of the refractive type, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0547 comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Apparatus, methods and systems of wireless power distribution are disclosed. Embodiments involve the redirection of collimated energy to a converter, which stores or converts the energy into a more suitable form of energy for at least one specific point-of-use that is coupled to the converter.

Claims

1. A wireless power routing system, comprising:

a power beam generator configured to form a collimated power beam by adjusting a flux density of the collimated power beam as a function of one or more optical properties of one or more power elements capable of changing a path of the collimated power beam along a pathway, wherein the one or more power elements comprise one or more beam redirectors, optical fibers or converters;

at least one beam redirector communicatively coupled with a switch and configured using the switch to receive the collimated power beam and direct the collimated power beam to near a point of power consumption; and

at least one power storage device comprising the point of power consumption, the at least one power storage device configured to perform a first conversion of at least a portion of the collimated power beam'"'"'s energy prior to storage for later use at the point of power consumption, and a second conversion of at least the portion of the collimated power beam'"'"'s energy after storage and before usage at the point of power consumption.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power storage device is further configured to convert at least a portion of the collimated power beam'"'"'s energy to a useable power for use at the point of power consumption.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power storage device comprises a plurality of power storage devices.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch operates according to triggering criteria.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein a state of the switch is based on sensor data from one or more sensors.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the state of the switch determines whether at least a portion of the collimated power beam is stored at a given time.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the state of the switch determines a ratio of the collimated power beam that is stored at a given time.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch is configured to alter a direction of the collimated power beam via the at least one beam redirector.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the collimated power beam is redirected via the at least one beam redirector based on a state of the switch.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch is communicatively coupled with a user device.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the switch is configured to communicate information to the user device related to at least one of an amount of stored energy at the at least one power storage device and a ratio of conversion to storage at a given time at the at least one power storage device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power storage device comprises a rechargeable power source.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the rechargeable power source comprises one or more of an electrochemical storage device, a battery, a capacitor, and a graphene supercapacitor.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power storage device is configured to store power related to one or more of photosynthesis, steam, heat, kinetic energy, and chemical energy.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power storage device comprises at least one electrical outlet configured to receive a plug of a point-of-use device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the point-of-use device comprises at least one of a microwave, laundry machine, a dryer, a refrigerator, a pump, a conveyor, a toy, a data storage device, a vending machine, and a kiosk.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power storage device is coupled to a building or structure.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power storage device is configured to store at least a portion of the collimated power beam as one or more of electrical energy, mechanical energy, chemical energy, thermal energy, kinetic energy, and electromagnetic energy.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the collimated power beam comprises solar energy.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the power beam generator comprises a solar energy collector.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the power beam generator comprises a collimator configured to form a collimated beam of light.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the collimated power beam comprises at least one of the following forms of electromagnetic energy:

microwaves, lasers, infrared beams, X-rays, and radio waves.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one beam redirector comprises at least one of a mirror and a beam splitter.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one beam redirector comprises a plurality of redirectors disposed within a structure forming a network of redirectors.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the power beam generator is exterior to the structure.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the point of power consumption is interior to the structure.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the point of power consumption is located in a basement or in a subterranean location.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of redirectors direct the collimated power beam through a room of the structure.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of redirectors direct the collimated power beam through a wall of the structure.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of redirectors direct the collimated power beam internal to a wall of the structure.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of redirectors direct the collimated power beam through a heating duct of the structure.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein the structure comprises a building.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the building comprises at least one of the following:

a house, a temporary building, an office building, a warehouse, an underground structure, an underground housing structure, an open-air structure, and a hospital.

34. The system of claim 24, wherein the structure comprises a vehicle.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the vehicle comprises at least one of:

an airplane, an automobile, a truck, a ship, a boat, a spacecraft, and a train.

36. A wireless power routing system, comprising:

a power beam generator configured to form a collimated power beam by adjusting a flux density of the collimated power beam as a function of one or more optical properties of one or more power elements capable of changing a path of the collimated power beam along a pathway, wherein the one or more power elements comprise one or more beam redirectors, optical fibers or converters;

at least one beam redirector configured to receive the collimated power beam and direct the collimated power beam to near a point of power consumption; and

at least one power storage device comprising the point of power consumption, the at least one power storage device configured to perform a first conversion of at least a portion of the collimated power beam'"'"'s energy prior to storage for later use at the point of power consumption, and a second conversion of at least the portion of the collimated power beam'"'"'s energy after storage and before usage at the point of power consumption.