HIGH INTENSITY LASER POWER BEAMING RECEIVER FOR SPACE AND TERRESTRIAL APPLICATIONS

• US 20080245930A1
• Filed: 01/03/2008
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cleveland State University
• Original Assignee: Cleveland State University
• Inventors: Nayfeh, Taysir H., Fast, Brian R., Dinca, Dragos, Tollis, Nick, Jalics, Andrew, Raible, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/968,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20080245930A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/53R
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 27/24 using steam or spring force jet aircraft B64D27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 39/00 Refuelling during flight filling or emptying fuel tanks B64D37/14
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/31 generated by photovoltaics
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/047 PV cell arrays including PV cells having multiple vertical junctions or multiple V-groove junctions formed in a semiconductor substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

Systems and methods are described that facilitate refueling a vehicle with electrical energy by targeting receiver thereon and pointing a high-intensity laser source at the receiver. Vertical multi-junction (VMJ) photocells receive the laser energy and convert the laser energy into electrical energy. The laser source can operate at a range of output power levels depending on the vehicle'"'"'s energy needs. The laser source can be pulsed or continuous near-infrared laser source. A heat exchanger can be coupled to the receiver to dissipate laser energy not converted into electrical energy. If the vehicle has a propeller, the heat exchanger can be mounted to the vehicle in the propeller wash path.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates laser power beaming, comprising:

a receiver mounted to a vehicle and electrically coupled thereto;

an array of vertical multi-junction (VMJ) photocells, positioned on the receiver to receive a laser beam;

a global positioning system onboard the vehicle, which transmits location information;

a remote position tracking system that receives the location information from the global positioning system; and

a high-intensity laser that receives targeting information from the position tracking system, targets the receiver on the vehicle, and provides a laser beam pulse thereto;

wherein the VMJ photocells convert at least a portion of the received laser beam energy to electrical energy for use by the vehicle.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle further comprises a thermal sensor that sends a shut-off signal to the laser source when the thermal sensor registers a temperature at or above a predetermined acceptable temperature.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the receiver is coupled to a heat exchanger that dissipates heat away from the receiver.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle comprises a propeller and the heat exchanger is mounted to the vehicle at a location in the path of the propeller wash.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the laser source emits a near infra-red (IR) laser beam with a wavelength of approximately 750-1400 nm.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the laser source has a power output of approximately 30 kW to approximately 100 kW.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the laser source has a power output of approximately 1 kW to approximately 30 kW.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein the laser source has a power output of approximately 50 W to approximately 1 kW.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the laser source emits a near infra-red (IR) laser beam with a wavelength of approximately 900-1100 nm.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the laser source has a power output of approximately 30 kW to approximately 100 kW.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the laser source has a power output of approximately 1 kW to approximately 30 kW.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the laser source has a power output of approximately 50 W to approximately 1 kW.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the laser source has a power output of approximately 30 kW to approximately 100 kW.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the laser source has a power output of approximately 1 kW to approximately 30 kW.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the laser source has a power output of approximately 50 W to approximately 1 kW.

17. A method of mid-air refueling of a vehicle using a near-infrared laser, comprising:

receiving location coordinate information from the vehicle;

targeting a receiver on the vehicle with a near-infrared laser source;

directing a laser beam form the laser source to a laser-receiving array on the receiver;

receiving the laser beam at one or more vertical multi-junction (VMJ) photocells in the laser-receiving array;

converting received laser energy into electrical energy;

storing the electrical energy in the VMJ photocells for use by the vehicle; and

dissipating heat caused by unconverted laser energy into the ambient atmosphere.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the laser source has a power output of approximately 1-100 kW, and wherein the VMJ photo cells convert at least approximately 50% of the received laser energy into electrical energy.

19. An apparatus for laser power beaming to refuel a vehicle, comprising:

means for receiving a high-intensity laser beam at the vehicle;

means for transmitting location information describing the coordinates of the vehicle;

means for receiving the location information;

means for aiming the high-intensity laser beam at the vehicle;

means for emitting the high-intensity laser beam targeted at the means for receiving the laser beam;

means for converting at least a portion of the received high-intensity laser beam energy to electrical energy for use by the vehicle; and

means for dissipating heat caused by high-intensity laser beam energy that is not converted into electrical energy.