Locating power receivers
First Claim
1. A power beaming transmission unit, comprising:
- power beam circuitry to wirelessly deliver electric power as a power beam from a first location to a second location, the first and second locations being remote from each other, the power beam circuitry arranged to provide an output beam having at least two power intensity levels, the at least two power intensity levels including a high-flux intensity level defining a hazardous illumination volume and a low-flux intensity level defining a safe illumination volume; and
control circuitry, the control circuitry configured to;
aim a transmitter of the power beam circuitry based on stored location information associated with a remote reception unit;
after aiming the transmitter, direct the transmitter of the power beam circuitry to transmit a wide-angle output of a low-flux search beam during a first time window;
detect, via a detector of the power beam circuitry, at least one returned signal as a reflection of the low-flux search beam during the first time window;
based on the at least one returned signal, identify a location of the remote reception unit during the first time window;
aim the transmitter of the power beam circuitry toward the identified location of the remote reception unit during the first time window; and
direct the transmitter of the power beam circuitry to deliver a narrow-angle output of a high-flux power beam during a second time window.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power beaming system includes a power beam reception unit and a power beam transmission unit. The power beam reception unit includes a power conversion array, such as a photovoltaic array, arranged to capture at least a portion of a power beam, and a power supply circuit arranged to convert flux from the captured portion of the power beam to electric power. The power beam transmission unit includes a power beam transmitter circuit to transmit a low-flux search beam during a first time window, and further arranged to transmit a high-flux power beam during a second time window. The power beam transmission unit also includes a location detection circuit arranged to identify a location of the reception unit based on the power beam transmitter circuit transmitting the low-flux search beam during the first time window.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power beaming transmission unit, comprising:
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power beam circuitry to wirelessly deliver electric power as a power beam from a first location to a second location, the first and second locations being remote from each other, the power beam circuitry arranged to provide an output beam having at least two power intensity levels, the at least two power intensity levels including a high-flux intensity level defining a hazardous illumination volume and a low-flux intensity level defining a safe illumination volume; and control circuitry, the control circuitry configured to; aim a transmitter of the power beam circuitry based on stored location information associated with a remote reception unit; after aiming the transmitter, direct the transmitter of the power beam circuitry to transmit a wide-angle output of a low-flux search beam during a first time window; detect, via a detector of the power beam circuitry, at least one returned signal as a reflection of the low-flux search beam during the first time window; based on the at least one returned signal, identify a location of the remote reception unit during the first time window; aim the transmitter of the power beam circuitry toward the identified location of the remote reception unit during the first time window; and direct the transmitter of the power beam circuitry to deliver a narrow-angle output of a high-flux power beam during a second time window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A power beaming method executed by power beam circuitry, the power beam circuitry arranged to wirelessly deliver electric power as a power beam from a first location to a second location, the first and second locations being remote from each other, the power beam circuitry arranged to provide an output beam having at least two power intensity levels, a high-flux intensity level defining a hazardous illumination volume and a low-flux intensity level defining a safe illumination volume, the method comprising:
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transmitting, with a power beam transmitter, a low-flux search beam over a wide-angle during a first time window, wherein transmitting the low-flux search beam over the wide-angle during the first time window includes transmitting the low-flux search beam over a narrow-angle in a determined sweeping pattern during the first time window; detecting at least one returned reflection of the low-flux search beam during the first time window; identifying a location of a remote reception unit based on information contained in the at least one returned reflection; aiming the power beam transmitter toward the identified location of the remote reception unit; and focusing a high-flux power beam toward the identified location of the remote reception unit during a second time window. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A power beaming system, comprising:
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a power beam reception unit, the power beam reception unit including; a power conversion array, the power conversion array arranged to capture at least a portion of a power beam; and a power supply circuit, the power supply circuit arranged to convert flux from the captured portion of the power beam to electric power; and a power beam transmission unit, the power beam transmission unit including; a power beam transmitter circuit arranged to transmit a low-flux search beam during a first time window according to a selected time pattern, and further arranged to transmit a high-flux power beam during a second time window; and a location detection circuit arranged to identify a location of the reception unit in association with the power beam transmitter circuit transmitting the low-flux search beam during the first time window, wherein the location detection circuit includes at least one photodetector arranged to detect at least one returned signal that includes a plurality of light reflections corresponding to the selected time pattern. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification