Beam power with multiple power zones

• US 9,083,203 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2012
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• 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): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARRIES, DRU M
• Application Number:
  US13/590,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20120313451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• 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: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

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 system for providing beamed power to a mobile receiving unit, comprising:

a power beaming unit configured to beam power in the form of a power beam and a guard beam to the mobile receiving unit; and

a path prediction unit configured to predict a future motion of the mobile receiving unit in advance by monitoring a reflection of the guard beam from the mobile receiving unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power directly to the receiving unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power to a beam-directing element configured to redirect the power to the receiving unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam electromagnetic power.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic power has an optical frequency.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic power has a radio frequency.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the power beaming unit includes a laser that generates a power beam.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the path prediction unit is configured to receive a signal from the receiving unit indicating a speed of movement.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the path prediction unit is configured to receive a signal from the receiving unit indicating a direction of movement.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the path prediction unit is configured to use a history of movement of the receiving unit to predict a path for the unit.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the path prediction unit is configured to detect a speed of movement of the receiving unit.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the path prediction unit is configured to detect a direction of movement of the receiving unit.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the guard beam includes a plurality of guard beams that collectively surround the power beam.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of guard beams differ in at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of frequency, polarity, modulation, and character.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the path prediction unit is configured to use the characteristic of the reflected guard beam to predict a motion of the mobile receiving unit.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the guard beam and the power beam are substantially collinear.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the power beaming unit further includes a beam combiner configured to combine the power beam and the guard beam.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the power beaming unit is configured to scan the guard beam around the power beam.

13. A system for providing beamed power to a mobile receiving unit, comprising:

a power beaming unit configured to beam power in the form of a power beam and a guard beam;

a path prediction unit configured to predict a future motion of the mobile receiving unit in advance, by monitoring a reflection of the guard beam from the mobile receiving unit; and

a plurality of beam-directing components configured to dynamically redirect power from the power beaming unit to the mobile receiving unit.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a movement determination unit configured to determine a movement characteristic of the mobile receiving unit.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the movement determination unit is further configured to select a beam-directing component arranged to redirect power to the mobile receiving unit.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the movement determination unit is further configured to transmit an instruction to the selected beam-directing component indicating a beam direction.