Power transmission for aircraft flight testing
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- a fuselage of an aircraft containing a pressurized volume, said fuselage comprising a transparent portion which is transparent to the passage of an electromagnetic beam therethrough;
a source of electromagnetic radiation that emits electromagnetic radiation as an electromagnetic beam, said source being mounted inside said fuselage within said pressurized volume;
a portion of the aircraft disposed outside said fuselage and having an external surface;
an electrical device attached to said portion of the aircraft;
a receiver configured to convert an impinging electromagnetic beam from said source into electrical power, said receiver being mounted on said external surface at a location which is separated from said transparent portion of said fuselage by air along the path of an electromagnetic beam emitted from said source and received by said receiver; and
an electrical connection between said receiver and said electrical device for carrying electrical power from said receiver to said electrical device.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for transferring power through an aircraft window and thereby powering temporary externally mounted equipment, such as flight test instrumentation, without cutting or drilling holes in the airplane to run wire for a flight test or experiment. One embodiment uses a light source and a photovoltaic cell to transfer power from inside to outside the aircraft. Another embodiment uses an RF source and a rectenna to transfer power from inside to outside the aircraft.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a fuselage of an aircraft containing a pressurized volume, said fuselage comprising a transparent portion which is transparent to the passage of an electromagnetic beam therethrough; a source of electromagnetic radiation that emits electromagnetic radiation as an electromagnetic beam, said source being mounted inside said fuselage within said pressurized volume; a portion of the aircraft disposed outside said fuselage and having an external surface; an electrical device attached to said portion of the aircraft; a receiver configured to convert an impinging electromagnetic beam from said source into electrical power, said receiver being mounted on said external surface at a location which is separated from said transparent portion of said fuselage by air along the path of an electromagnetic beam emitted from said source and received by said receiver; and an electrical connection between said receiver and said electrical device for carrying electrical power from said receiver to said electrical device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system comprising:
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an electrical device attached to an exterior surface of an aircraft; a source of electromagnetic radiation that produces a beam of electromagnetic radiation, said source being mounted inside a fuselage of the aircraft; a receiver configured to convert electromagnetic radiation from said source into electrical power, said receiver being mounted outside said fuselage and electrically connected to said electrical device; means for tracking the location of said receiver relative to said source while said aircraft is in flight; and means for steering said beam of electromagnetic radiation so that it is directed toward said receiver while said aircraft is in flight.
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13. A system comprising:
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an electrical device attached to an exterior surface of an aircraft; a source of electromagnetic radiation that produces a beam of electromagnetic radiation, said source being mounted inside a fuselage of the aircraft; a receiver configured to convert electromagnetic radiation from said source into electrical power, said receiver being mounted outside said fuselage and electrically connected to said electrical device; and a plate into which said receiver is integrated, said plate being attached to the outside of a portion of the fuselage that surrounds a cabin window of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A system for providing electrical power to an electrical device mounted outside an aircraft, comprising:
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a first plate attached to the inside of a portion of a fuselage that surrounds a cabin window of said aircraft; a source of electromagnetic radiation integrated into said first plate; a second plate attached to the outside of said window; and a receiver configured to convert electromagnetic radiation from said source into electricity, said receiver being integrated into said second plate and electrically connected to said electrical device. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification