Microwave power transmission beam safety system
First Claim
1. An electromagnetic power beam transmission system comprising:
- a power beam radiator;
a power beam receiving array;
source means for supplying power to be radiated by said radiator and received by said receiving array, said radiated power comprising said electromagnetic power transmission beam;
power profile sensing means for determining if an object is within said power transmission beam; and
means for controlling said source means in response to said power profile sensing means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system in which the characteristics of a microwave power transmission beam are controlled in accordance with power distribution profiles altered due to the detected presence or entrance of an object into the beam which causes changes that are perceived in various received, reflected and scattered power distribution profiles resulting over various receiving elements of the system. An analysis of these changes is made, the results of which are used to reshape, dim or douse the power beam in accordance with predetermined criteria. Additionally, a "FAIL SAFE" condition is obtained by employing a beam penetration tester, whose function is to repeatedly test the correct performance of the beam intrusion detecting scheme by presenting a minimal threshold scattering or absorbing cross section while crossing the power beam. If the beam penetration tester is undetected by the beam safety system, then the beam control is preconditioned to turn off the power beam. Conversely, if the beam penetration tester is successfully detected, then the power beam is allowed to remain on. The system comprises a microwave power beam radiator array, a microwave power beam receiving antenna array, the radiator array in one embodiment being located on an orbiting spacecraft and the receiving array being located at a ground station. Another embodiment provides a ground based transmitting array and a receiving array aboard an aircraft or airship.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An electromagnetic power beam transmission system comprising:
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a power beam radiator; a power beam receiving array; source means for supplying power to be radiated by said radiator and received by said receiving array, said radiated power comprising said electromagnetic power transmission beam; power profile sensing means for determining if an object is within said power transmission beam; and means for controlling said source means in response to said power profile sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In a microwave power transmission beam system having a microwave power beam radiator array, a microwave power beam receiving antenna array, means for providing microwave power to said radiator array for formation of a microwave power transmission beam, means for disposing said radiator array so that microwave power transmitted therefrom will irradiate said receiving antenna array, the improvement comprising:
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power profile sensing means for determining if an object is within said microwave power transmission beam; and means for controlling said microwave power providing means in accordance with an output from said power profile sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. In a method of transmitting a microwave power beam between a microwave power beam radiator array and a microwave power beam receiving antenna array, the improvement comprising:
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sensing power profiles to determine if an object is within said microwave power transmission beam; and controlling said microwave power transmission beam in accordance with said sensing step. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification