Beam power with multipoint reception

• US 8,748,788 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Nugent, Thomas J. Jr., Weaver, Thomas A., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sohn, Seung C
• Application Number:
  US13/199,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20110316354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 250/201.1, 250/205, 250/206, 250/214.R, 342/457, 342/357.1, 342/357.12, 455/69, 455/522, 455/523, 455/70, 455/92
• US Class Current: 250/201.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/60 responsive to the presence of foreign objects, e.g. detection of living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

A beam power source transmits a signal indicating power availability, receives a request for power in response, and beams power in response to the request.

Claims

1. A method of determining relative priority of receiving units for power beaming, comprising:

receiving a first request for power from a first receiving unit including a first power specification request;

receiving a second request for power from a second receiving unit including a second power specification request;

determining a relative priority for the first and second requests according to a predetermined selection method; and

instructing a first power beaming unit to beam power to the receiving unit having a higher determined priority.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second power specification requests includes a datum selected from the group consisting of power type, wavelength, pulse characteristics, power amount, polarization, power-vs-time profile, time window, acceptable price, ability to pay, mode of payment, and identifying information for the receiving unit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a relative priority includes determining relative profitability for the first and second power specification requests.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a relative priority includes determining availability of power corresponding to the first and second power specification requests.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising instructing the first power beaming unit to beam power to the receiving unit having a lower determined priority.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising instructing a second power beaming unit to beam power to the receiving unit having a lower determined priority.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein instructing the first power beaming unit to beam power includes sending a signal to the first power beaming unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein instructing the first power beaming unit to beam power includes sending a signal to a remote unit configured to instruct the first power beaming unit.