Beam power with multiple power zones

• US 20100079005A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Weaver, Thomas A., Nugent, Thomas J. JR., Wood, Lowell L. JR., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Wood, Victoria Y.H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,264,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A beam power source transmits a signal indicating power availability, receives a request for power in response, and beams power in response to the request.

Claims

1. A system for providing beamed power to a mobile receiving unit, comprising:

a first power beaming unit configured to beam power to a receiving unit in a first power zone; and

a second power beaming unit configured to beam power to the receiving unit in a second power zone,

wherein the first power beaming unit is configured to terminate power beaming as the receiving unit moves out of the first power zone and the second power beaming unit is configured to initiate power beaming as the receiving unit moves into the second power zone.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first power beaming unit is configured to detect that the receiving unit has moved into the second power zone and to communicate to the second power beaming unit that the receiving unit has moved into the second power zone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first power beaming unit is configured to beam power within an enclosed space.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first power beaming unit is configured to beam power directly to the receiving unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first power beaming unit is configured to beam power to a beam-directing element configured to redirect the power to the receiving unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first power beaming unit is configured to gradually increase an amount of power beamed from the first power beaming unit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first power beaming unit is configured to beam electromagnetic power.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the electromagnetic power has an optical frequency.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the electromagnetic power has an RF frequency.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first power beaming unit includes a laser that generates a power beam.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first power beaming unit is configured to beam pulsed power.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first power beaming unit is configured to beam power continuously.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the movement determination unit is further configured to select a beam-directing component arranged to redirect power to the mobile receiving unit.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the movement determination unit is further configured to transmit an instruction to the selected beam-directing component indicating a beam direction.

13. A method for providing beamed power to a mobile receiving unit, comprising:

beaming power from a first sending location to the receiving unit at a first receiving location;

determining that the receiving unit is moving from the first receiving location to a second receiving location; and

beaming power from a second sending location to the receiving unit at the second receiving location.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein determining includes detecting from the first sending location that the receiving unit is moving away from the first receiving location and communicating to the second sending location that the receiving unit is moving toward the second receiving location.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein determining includes receiving information from the receiving unit.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein beaming power includes beaming power within an enclosed space.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein beaming power includes beaming power directly to the receiving unit.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein beaming power includes beaming power to a beam-directing element configured to redirect the power to the receiving unit.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein beaming power includes gradually increasing an amount of power beamed.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein beaming power includes beaming electromagnetic power.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the electromagnetic power has an optical frequency.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the electromagnetic power has an RF frequency.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein beaming power includes beaming laser power.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein beaming power includes directing a pulsed power beam.

25. The method of claim 13, wherein beaming power includes directing a continuous power beam.

26. A power source configured to beam power to a receiving unit, comprising:

a location unit configured to locate a receiving unit in need of power by

initiating contact with the receiving unit by broadcasting a signal indicative of its ability to supply power; and

receiving a request for power from the receiving unit in response to the broadcast signal;

a first power beaming unit configured to beam power to the receiving unit; and

a decision unit configured to determine that the receiving unit should be powered by a second power beaming unit and to direct the first power beaming unit to discontinue beaming power to the receiving unit upon transfer of responsibility for power beaming to the second power beaming unit.

27. The power source of claim 26, wherein the decision unit is configured to determine that the receiving unit should be powered by a second power beaming unit by determining that the receiving unit has entered a power zone corresponding to the second power beaming unit.

28. The power source of claim 26, wherein the first power beaming unit is configured to beam power within an enclosed space.

29. The power source of claim 26, wherein the first power beaming unit is configured to beam power directly to the receiving unit.

30. The power source of claim 26, wherein the first power beaming unit is configured to beam power to a beam-directing element configured to redirect the power to the receiving unit.

31. The power source of claim 26, wherein the first power beaming unit is configured to gradually increase an amount of power beamed from the first power beaming unit.

32. The power source of claim 26, wherein the first power beaming unit is configured to beam electromagnetic power.

33. The power source of claim 32, wherein the electromagnetic power has an optical frequency.

34. The power source of claim 32, wherein the electromagnetic power has an RF frequency.

35. The power source of claim 26, wherein the first power beaming unit includes a laser that generates a power beam.

36. The power source of claim 26, wherein the first power beaming unit is configured to beam pulsed power.

37. The power source of claim 26, wherein the first power beaming unit is configured to beam power continuously.

38. A system for providing beamed power to a mobile receiving unit, comprising:

a power beaming unit configured to beam power to the mobile receiving unit; and

a path prediction unit configured to predict a motion of the mobile receiving unit.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power directly to the receiving unit.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power to a beam-directing element configured to redirect the power to the receiving unit.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam electromagnetic power.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein the electromagnetic power has an optical frequency.

43. The system of claim 38, wherein the electromagnetic power has a radio frequency.

44. The system of claim 38, wherein the power beaming unit includes a laser that generates a power beam.

45. The system of claim 38, wherein the path prediction unit is configured to receive a signal from the receiving unit indicating a speed of movement.

46. The system of claim 38, wherein the path prediction unit is configured to receive a signal from the receiving unit indicating a direction of movement.

47. The system of claim 38, wherein the path prediction unit is configured to use a history of movement of the receiving unit to predict a path for the unit.

48. The system of claim 38, wherein the path prediction unit is configured to detect a speed of movement of the receiving unit.

49. The system of claim 38, wherein the path prediction unit is configured to detect a direction of movement of the receiving unit.

50. A system for providing beamed power to a mobile receiving unit, comprising:

a power beaming unit configured to beam power; and

a plurality of beam-directing components configured to dynamically redirect power from the power beaming unit to the mobile receiving unit.

51. The system of claim 50, further comprising a movement determination unit configured to determine a movement characteristic of the mobile receiving unit.