Space-based power system
First Claim
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1. A space-based power system, comprising:
- a plurality of power system elements in space, the plurality of power system elements including at least one intermediate power system element in space that receives sunlight from one power system element in space and transmits the sunlight to another power system element in space; and
a distributed control system, the plurality of power system elements in space including a control system component of the distributed control system, wherein one or more of the elements of the plurality of power system elements are free-floating, and the plurality of power system elements are arranged to collect sunlight, generate electrical energy from the collected sunlight, and convert the electrical energy into a form for transmission to a pre-determined location, and the distributed control system maintains alignment of the one or more free-floating power system elements based on communications between control system components of adjacent power system elements.
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Abstract
A space-based power system. The system maintains proper positioning and alignment of system components without using connecting structures. Power system elements are launched into orbit, and the free-floating power system elements are maintained in proper relative alignment, e.g., position, orientation, and shape, using a control system.
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Citations
100 Claims
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1. A space-based power system, comprising:
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a plurality of power system elements in space, the plurality of power system elements including at least one intermediate power system element in space that receives sunlight from one power system element in space and transmits the sunlight to another power system element in space; and
a distributed control system, the plurality of power system elements in space including a control system component of the distributed control system, wherein one or more of the elements of the plurality of power system elements are free-floating, and the plurality of power system elements are arranged to collect sunlight, generate electrical energy from the collected sunlight, and convert the electrical energy into a form for transmission to a pre-determined location, and the distributed control system maintains alignment of the one or more free-floating power system elements based on communications between control system components of adjacent power system elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A space-based power system, comprising:
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a plurality of power system elements in space, including the following power system elements;
a primary mirror;
an intermediate mirror, wherein the primary mirror directs sunlight to the intermediate mirror;
a power module, wherein the intermediate mirror directs sunlight to the power module, the power module generating direct current electricity;
an emitter, wherein the emitter converts the direct current electricity into RF or optical energy; and
a reflective mirror, wherein the emitter directs the RF or optical energy to the reflective mirror, and the reflective mirror directs the RF or optical energy to a receiver at a predetermined location; and
a distributed control system, the control system including;
a plurality of sensors, and a plurality of displacement members, wherein one or more elements of the plurality of power system elements are free-floating, each respective power system element in space includes a sensor and a displacement member, and the control system maintains alignment of the one or more free-floating power system elements in space by selectively activating a displacement member in response to sensor data. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88)
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89. A method of aligning power system elements to generate power in space and transmit the generated power to a predetermined location, the method comprising:
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launching a plurality of power system elements and a distributed control system into space, wherein one or more power system elements of the plurality of power system elements are free-floating in space, and the distributed control system includes components on the plurality of power system elements in space;
positioning the plurality of power system elements in space, the plurality of power system elements including at least one intermediate power system element in space that receives sunlight from one power system element in space and transmits the sunlight to another power system element in space; and
maintaining alignment of the free-floating power system elements using the distributed control system based on communications between control system components of adjacent power system elements so that the power system elements are configured to;
collect sunlight;
generate electrical energy from the collected sunlight, and convert the electrical energy into a form suitable for transmission to the pre-determined location. - View Dependent Claims (90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100)
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Specification