System using a megawatt class millimeter wave source and a high-power rectenna to beam power to a suspended platform

• US 6,919,847 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Caplan, Malcolm, Friedman, Herbert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Shih-Chao
• Assistant Examiner(s): A, Minh Dieu
• Application Number:
  US10/741,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20040156400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 343/832, 343/839, 343/843, 343/912, 343/705, 343/708, 343/709, 244/3.13, 244/3.14, 244/3.21, 244/158.R
• US Class Current: 343/705
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/248 provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/13 the primary radiating source being a single radiating element, e.g. a dipole, a slot, a waveguide termination H01Q19/15 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

A system for beaming power to a high altitude platform is based upon a high power millimeter gyrotron source, optical transmission components, and a high-power receiving antenna (i.e., a rectenna) capable of rectifying received millimeter energy and converting such energy into useable electrical power.

Claims

1. A method of beaming power from a first location to a remote location, comprising:

providing a high altitude suspended platform,

providing a power transmitting system that includes a millimeter wavelength source at said first location,

transferring power produced by said millimeter wavelength source by directing said source onto a foil reflector on said platform; and

providing a high-power rectenna, said rectenna arranged on said platform to receive a focused power from said reflector, wherein said rectenna rectifies said focused power into useable electrical power.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said millimeter wavelength source comprises at least one frequency selected from about 35 GHz, about 94 GHz, and about 140 GHz.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said source includes a gyrotron configured to transmit up to about a megawatt of millimeter wave power.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said high-power rectenna comprises a resonant cavity that further includes a field emission diode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said high-power rectenna comprises a field emission diode in a half-wave dipole antenna configuration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said high-power rectenna comprises high-density Shottky diodes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said foil reflector is configured to receive a transmitted beam from said source of up to about 40 m in diameter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said foil reflector comprises a thin metallic coating applied to the top of said platform.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said high-power rectenna is configured to receive said focused power comprising greater than about 200 mW/cm².

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said high-altitude platform includes a fabric housing opaque to visible light but transparent to millimeter wavelengths.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said useable electrical power can be directed to provide power for at least one function selected from:

station keeping, propulsion, and payload utility.

12. A power beaming system for transferring power from a first location to a remote location, comprising:

a high altitude suspended platform,

an electromagnetic radiation source positioned at said first location and configured to transfer a predetermined power to said high altitude suspended platform,

a foil reflector on said high altitude platform to receive said predetermined power; and

a high-power rectenna on said high altitude platform, arranged to receive a focused power from said foil reflector, wherein said rectenna rectifies said focused power into useable electrical power.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said source includes a gyrotron configured to transmit up to about a megawatt of power.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said source comprises at least one frequency selected from about 35 GHz, about 94 GHz, and about 140 GHz.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said high-power rectenna comprises a resonant cavity that further includes a field emission diode.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said high-power rectenna comprises a field emission diode in a half-wave dipole antenna configuration.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein said high-power rectenna comprises high-density Shottky diodes.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein said foil reflector is configured to receive a transmitted beam from said source of up to about 40 m in diameter.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said foil reflector comprises a thin metallic coating applied to the top said platform.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein said high-altitude suspended platform includes a fabric housing opaque to visible light but transparent to millimeter wavelengths.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein said high-power rectenna is configured to receive said focused power comprising greater than about 200 mW/cm².

22. The method of claim 12, wherein said useable electrical power can be directed to provide power for at least one function selected from:

station keeping, propulsion, and payload utility.

23. A power beaming system for transferring power from Earth to a high altitude suspended platform, comprising:

a gyrotron source,

a beam wave propagating antenna further comprising a water-cooled sub-reflector, wherein said antenna is configured to transfer power received from said source to said high altitude platform

a foil reflector arranged on said high altitude platform to receive said power; and

a high-power rectenna on said high altitude platform arranged to receive a focused power from said foil reflector, wherein said rectenna rectifies said focused power into useable DC electrical power.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said gyrotron source is configured to transmit up to about a megawatt of power.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein said source comprises at least one frequency selected from about 35 GHz, about 94 GHz, and about 140 GHz.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein said high-power rectenna comprises a resonant cavity that further includes a field emission diode.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein said high-power rectenna comprises a field emission diode in a half-wave dipole antenna configuration.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein said high-power rectenna comprises high-density Shottky diodes.

29. The system claim 23, wherein said high-power rectenna is configured to receive said focused power comprising greater than about 200 mW/cm².

30. The system of claim 23, wherein said foil reflector comprises a thin metallic coating applied to the top of said platform.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein said high-altitude suspended platform includes a fabric housing opaque to visible light but transparent to millimeter wavelengths.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein said useable electrical power can be directed to provide power for at least one function selected from:

station keeping, propulsion, and payload utility.