SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTACTLESS ENERGY TRANSFER TO A MOVING PLATFORM

• US 20170063100A1
• Filed: 08/31/2015
• Published: 03/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Jungwirth, Douglas R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,264,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A contactless energy transfer system has a first stationary platform and a second movable platform. The first platform has at least one light source coupled to a power source. The second separate platform has at least one photovoltaic module mounted thereon. The at least one photovoltaic module is coupled to an energy storage system mounted on the second platform such that any light received at the photovoltaic module is converted to electrical energy stored in the energy storage system. The second platform is configured to move in close proximity to the first platform along a predetermined pathway. The predetermined pathway may be linear or rotary. The light sources are positioned and configured to direct light at the photovoltaic modules during a predetermined interval when the second platform is in close proximity to the first platform (for the linear pathway) or constantly or at predetermined intervals (for the rotatory pathway).

Claims

1. A contactless energy transfer system comprising:

a first platform having at least one light source coupled to a power source;

a second platform, separate from the first platform, having at least one photovoltaic module mounted thereon, the at least one photovoltaic module coupled to an energy storage system mounted on the second platform such that any light received at the at least one photovoltaic module is converted to electrical energy stored in the energy storage system, the second platform configured to move in close proximity to the first platform for a predetermined interval along a predetermined pathway; and

wherein the at least one light source is positioned and configured to direct light at the at least one photovoltaic module during the predetermined interval.

2. The contactless energy transfer system of claim 1, wherein the first platform is stationary.

3. The contactless energy transfer system of claim 1, wherein the first platform is moveable.

4. The contactless energy transfer system of claim 1, wherein the second platform further includes a first signal transmitter for outputting an activation signal, and wherein the first platform includes a receiver configured to receive the activation signal and activate the at least one light source to output light.

5. The contactless energy transfer system of claim 4, wherein the second platform further includes a second signal transmitter for outputting a deactivation signal.

6. The contactless energy transfer system of claim 5, wherein the receiver on the first platform is configured to receive the deactivation signal and deactivate the at least one light source to cease outputting light.

7. The contactless energy transfer system of claim 4, wherein the receiver on the first platform is configured to deactivate the at least one light source to cease outputting light after a predetermined period of time.

8. The contactless energy transfer system of claim 1, wherein the first platform includes a sensor configured to detect when the second platform is in close proximity to the first platform and to activate the light source to output light while the second platform remains in close proximity to the first platform.

9. The contactless energy transfer system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one light source is a high-intensity light source.

10. The contactless energy transfer system of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one photovoltaic module comprises one or more laser power converters.

11. A contactless energy transfer system comprising:

a first platform having at least one light source coupled to a power source;

a second platform, separate from the first platform, having at least one photovoltaic module mounted thereon, the at least one photovoltaic module coupled to an energy storage system mounted on the second platform such that any light received at the at least one photovoltaic module is converted to electrical energy stored in the energy storage system, the second platform configured to rotate around a fixed axis in close proximity to the first platform; and

wherein the at least one light source is positioned and configured to direct light at the at least one photovoltaic module during rotation of the second platform.

12. The contactless energy transfer system of claim 11, wherein the second platform is a cylinder having an axis coincident with the fixed axis, wherein the at least one photovoltaic module is positioned on an outer periphery of the cylindrical second platform, and wherein the at least one light source is positioned outside the outer periphery such that light output from the at least one light source is directed at the at least one photovoltaic module.

13. The contactless energy transfer system of claim 11, wherein the second platform has a surface perpendicular to the axis of rotation, wherein the at least one photovoltaic module is positioned on the surface of the cylindrical second platform perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and wherein the at least one light source is positioned such that light output from the at least one light source is directed at the at least one photovoltaic module.

14. The contactless energy transfer system of claim 11, wherein each of the at least one light source is configured to activate to output light during rotation of the second platform.

15. The contactless energy transfer system of claim 11, wherein each of the at least one light source is configured to activate to output light only for predetermined intervals during rotation of the second platform.

16. The contactless energy transfer system of claim 11, wherein each of the at least one light source is a high-intensity light source.

17. The contactless energy transfer system of claim 11, wherein each of the at least one photovoltaic module comprises one or more laser power converters.

18. The contactless energy transfer system of claim 11, wherein the first platform further comprises a first communications circuit, a first light detector coupled to the first communications circuit and centrally aligned with the fixed axis of the second platform, a fixed lens mounted perpendicular to and centrally aligned with the fixed axis of the second platform, the fixed lens between the light detector and the second platform;

wherein the second platform further comprises a second communications circuit and a second light source coupled to the second communications circuit, the second light source mounted at a fixed distance from the fixed axis of the second platform, the second light source positioned to direct light though the fixed lens;

wherein the fixed lens is configured to direct the light from the second light source to the first light detector;

wherein the second communications circuit is configured to provide a data stream to the second light source; and

wherein the first communications circuit is configured to receive the data stream from the first light detector.

19. The contactless energy transfer system of claim 11, wherein the first platform further comprises a first communications circuit, a first light source coupled to the first communications circuit and mounted at a fixed distance from the fixed axis of the second platform, a fixed lens mounted perpendicular to and centrally aligned with the fixed axis of the second platform, the fixed lens between the first light source and the second platform, the first light source positioned to direct light though the fixed lens;

wherein the second platform further comprises a second communications circuit and a second light detector coupled to the second communications circuit, the second light detector centrally aligned with the fixed axis of the second platform;

wherein the fixed lens is configured to direct the light from the first light source to the second light detector;

wherein the first communications circuit is configured to provide a data stream to the first light source; and

wherein the second communications circuit is configured to receive the data stream from the second light detector.

20. A method of contactless energy transfer from a stationary platform to a moving platform, the moving platform configured to move in a predetermined path in close proximity to the stationary platform, comprising the steps of:

activating one or more light sources mounted on a stationary platform to output light as a moving platform moves in close proximity to the stationary platform along the predetermined path;

receiving light output from the one or more light sources on the stationary platform at one or more photovoltaic modules mounted on the moving platform as the moving platform moves in close proximity to the stationary platform along the predetermined path;

converting the received light to electrical energy at the one or more photovoltaic modules mounted on the moving platform as the moving platform moves in close proximity to the stationary platform along the predetermined path; and

storing the electrical energy in an energy storage system on the moving platform.