Guided surface wave transmission of multiple frequencies in a lossy media

• US 10,193,353 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quantum Wave LLC
• Original Assignee: Cpg Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Corum, James F., Corum, Kenneth L., Lilly, James D., Pinzone, Jr., Basil F., Pinzone, Joseph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skibinski, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US15/856,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20180138719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 307149, 307104, 333240, 343785, 343719, 343739, 343749, 324335
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/18 built-up from several layers to increase operating surface, i.e. alternately conductive and dielectric layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/00 Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas arrangements for varying orientation of directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/24 Inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments for transmitting energy at multiple frequencies via a guided surface wave along the surface of a lossy medium such as, e.g., a terrestrial medium by exciting a guided surface waveguide probe.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a guided surface waveguide probe configured to launch a guided surface wave along a lossy conducting medium, wherein a field strength of the guided surface wave decays exponentially as a function of a distance from the guided surface waveguide probe;

a plurality of power sources coupled to the guided surface waveguide probe, individual power sources of the plurality of power sources being configured to excite the guided surface waveguide probe at a respective frequency of a plurality of different frequencies; and

a control system configured to adjust an operation of the guided surface waveguide probe for operation at a frequency of the plurality of different frequencies.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to at least select the frequency from the plurality of different frequencies.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the guided surface waveguide probe comprises a charge terminal, a coil, and a switching mechanism, the charge terminal being coupled to the coil via a tap that is variable via the switching mechanism.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the guided surface waveguide probe is configured to generate a resultant field that synthesizes a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle of incidence of the lossy conducting medium.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more frequencies comprises the plurality of different frequencies, and wherein the guided surface waveguide probe is adjusted to simultaneously launch a first guided surface wave at a first frequency along the lossy conducting medium and a second guided surface wave at a second frequency along the lossy conducting medium.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the guided surface waveguide probe comprises a charge terminal and a plurality of feed networks, the charge terminal being coupled to the plurality of feed networks via an N-plexer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power sources are inductively coupled to the guided surface waveguide probe.

8. A system, comprising:

a guided surface waveguide probe configured to launch a plurality of guided surface waves over a lossy conducting medium;

a plurality of power sources coupled to the guided surface waveguide probe, individual power sources of the plurality of power sources being configured to excite the guided surface waveguide probe at a respective frequency of a plurality of different frequencies; and

a feed network electrically coupled to a charge terminal of the guided surface waveguide probe, the feed network being configured to provide a respective phase delay that matches a respective wave tilt angle associated with a respective complex Brewster angle of incidence of the lossy conducting medium at a respective frequency.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of power sources are inductively coupled to the guided surface waveguide probe.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the feed network comprises a plurality of feed networks, a first power source of the plurality of power sources being coupled to a first feed network of the plurality of feed networks, and a second power source of the plurality of power sources being coupled to a second feed network of the plurality of feed networks.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of guided surface waves are launched simultaneously.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a control system coupled to the guided surface waveguide probe, the control system being configured to adjust the guided surface waveguide probe to launch at least one of the guided surface waves at a respective frequency along the lossy conducting medium.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the guided surface waveguide probe comprises a coil and a charge terminal, the coil being coupled to the charge terminal via a particular tap that is variable via a switching mechanism.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the switching mechanism comprises a plurality of terminals directly coupled of a plurality of taps along the coil.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein a position of the particular tap is adjustable based at least in part on at least one of a current measurement, a ground parameter measurement, a field measurement, power supplied by a respective one of the power sources, or power consumed by a load.

16. A method, comprising:

determining at least one frequency from a plurality of different frequencies to use for operation of a guided surface waveguide probe, the guided surface waveguide probe being coupled to a plurality of power sources configured to excite the guided surface waveguide probe at the plurality of different frequencies;

adjusting the guided surface waveguide probe to operate at the at least one frequency;

exciting a charge terminal of the guided surface waveguide probe with at least one signal at the at least one frequency;

launching at least one guided surface wave along a lossy conducting medium; and

providing, via a feed network electrically coupled to a charge terminal of the guided surface waveguide probe, a respective phase delay that matches a respective wave tilt angle associated with a respective complex Brewster angle of incidence of the lossy conducting medium in a vicinity of the guided surface waveguide probe for a respective frequency of the at least one frequency.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one guided surface wave comprises a plurality of guided surface waves, and wherein a respective field strength for individual guided surface waves of the plurality of guided surface waves decays exponentially as a function of a distance from the guided surface waveguide probe.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one guided surface wave comprises a plurality of guided surface waves, and the plurality of guided surface waves are launched simultaneously.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of power sources are inductively coupled to the guided surface waveguide probe.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of power sources are directly coupled to the guided surface waveguide probe.