WIRELESS LASER SYSTEM FOR POWER TRANSMISSION UTILIZING A GAIN MEDIUM BETWEEN RETROREFLECTORS
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical power beam transmission systems, with a directional light transmitter and receiver. The transmitter contains an amplifying laser medium, and this together with a retroreflector in the receiver, forms a laser resonator. When lasing sets in, the receiver can extract optical power through an output coupler and convert it to electrical power. The gain medium may be a disc having a thickness substantially smaller than its lateral dimensions. The laser resonator is operated as a stable resonator to ensure safe operation. This is achieved by use of an adaptive optical element, for reducing the diameter of the energy beam impinging on the gain medium, thereby increasing the overlap between the energy beam and the gain medium. As the transmitter-receiver distance is changed, such as by movement of the receiver, the adaptive optical element focal length changes to ensure that the cavity remains within its stability zone.
11 Citations
60 Claims
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1-51. -51. (canceled)
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52. A method for assuring safe operation of a system for transmitting power from a laser transmitter into a region, for reception of said power by receivers, and conversion to electrical power, the transmitted power being controlled by the gain of the gain medium of said laser, said method comprising:
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transmitting a search signal from said transmitter into said region for reception of said power by said receivers; searching for a confirmation signal from at least one receiver that it is entitled to receive power; commencing transmission of laser power at a reduced level from said transmitter to said at least one receiver; validating that the path between said transmitter and receiver is clear of any foreign object; checking that no safety-related disabling signals are received by said transmitter; increasing the gain of the gain medium of said laser, to increase said transmitted power towards its intended level; continuously verifying for the presence of safety indicators; and reducing the laser gain to generate a safer power level if at least one of said safety indicators indicates a danger, wherein at least one of said safety indicators is an enabling signal generated by said receiver when lasing is detected by said receiver. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification