Minimizing atmospheric discharge within a guided surface waveguide probe

• US 10,559,867 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2018
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cpg Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cpg Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Corum, James F., Corum, Kenneth L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Takaoka, Dean O
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Alan
• Application Number:
  US15/902,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20180261903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/182 Waveguide phase-shifters H01P1/181, H01P1/185, H01P1/19 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/12 Hollow waveguides H01P3/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/04 with variable factor of coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/082 Transitions between hollow waveguides of different shape, e.g. between a rectangular and a circular waveguide
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1242 Rigid masts specially adapted for supporting an aerial
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• 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 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/23 characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments for eliminating or minimizing atmospheric discharge within the internal phasing coil of the guided surface waveguide probe. A guided surface waveguide probe comprises a charge terminal elevated over a lossy conducting medium. The shape of the charge terminal is designed to minimize atmospheric discharge. A top portion of a coil being configured to provide a voltage to the charge terminal with a phase delay that matches a wave tilt angle associated with a complex Brewster angle of incidence associated with the lossy conducting medium is recessed within a hollow region of the charge terminal.

Claims

1. A guided surface waveguide probe, comprising:

a charge terminal elevated over a lossy conducting medium, the charge terminal being configured to minimize atmospheric discharge;

a coil being configured to provide a voltage to the charge terminal with a phase delay (Φ

) that matches a wave tilt angle (Ψ

) associated with a complex Brewster angle of incidence (θ

_i,B) associated with the lossy conducting medium, a top portion of the coil being recessed within a hollow region of the charge terminal; and

an excitation source coupled to the coil.

2. The guided surface waveguide probe of claim 1, wherein the charge terminal comprises an inverted bowl-like structure having a hemispherical portion at a top that transitions into a hollow toroid portion at a bottom, the hollow toroid portion terminating at an annular lip that points upwardly towards an underside of the charge terminal.

3. The guided surface waveguide probe of claim 1, wherein the charge terminal comprises an exterior surface and a recessed interior surface, the recessed interior surface defining the hollow region.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a charge density on the exterior surface of the charge terminal is greater than a charge density on the recessed interior surface.

5. The guided surface waveguide probe of claim 1, wherein the atmospheric discharge of the coil is minimized due to the top portion of the coil being recessed within the hollow region.

6. The guided surface waveguide probe of claim 1, wherein the charge terminal is substantially free of any one of:

a sharp edge, a sharp corner, or a sharp point.

7. The guided surface waveguide probe of claim 1, wherein an electric field within the hollow region is substantially smaller than the electric field experienced near an exterior surface of the charge terminal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the atmospheric discharge comprises at least one of:

Trichel pulses, corona, or a Townsend discharge.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top portion of the coil comprises a conical shape.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a charge terminal elevated over a lossy conducting medium, the charge terminal comprising an inverted bowl-like structure having a hemispherical portion at a top that transitions into a hollow toroid portion at a bottom, the hollow toroid portion terminating at an annular lip that points upwardly towards an underside of the charge terminal; and

a coil configured to provide a voltage to the charge terminal with a phase delay (Φ

) that matches a wave tilt angle (Ψ

) associated with a complex Brewster angle of incidence (θ

_i,B) associated with the lossy conducting medium, a top portion of the coil being recessed within a hollow region of the charge terminal.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein atmospheric discharge associated with the coil is minimized due to the top portion being recessed within the hollow region.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the atmospheric discharge comprises at least one of:

Trichel pulses, corona, or a Townsend discharge.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein an effective diameter of the coil is sized such that an amount of atmospheric discharge associated with the coil is below a threshold corresponding to an acceptable level of atmospheric discharge.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the coil comprises a conical shape, a cylindrical shape, a cylindrical pyramid shape, a rectangular pyramid shape, or an exponential pyramid shape.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a charge density on an exterior surface of the charge terminal is greater than a charge density on a recessed interior surface of the charge terminal.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein an electric field within the hollow region is substantially smaller than the electric field experienced near an exterior surface of the charge terminal.

17. A guided surface waveguide probe, comprising:

a charge terminal elevated over a lossy conducting medium, the charge terminal being shaped to reduce atmospheric discharge;

a coil coupled to an excitation source and configured to provide a voltage to the charge terminal with a phase delay (Φ

) that matches a wave tilt angle (Ψ

) associated with a complex Brewster angle of incidence (θ

_i,B) associated with the lossy conducting medium, a top portion of the coil being recessed within a hollow region of the charge terminal, and an effective diameter of at least a portion of the coil being sized such that atmospheric discharge associated with an increase of voltage is minimized.

18. The guided surface waveguide probe of claim 17, wherein the charge terminal comprises an inverted bowl-like structure having a hemispherical portion at a top that transitions into a hollow toroid portion at a bottom, the hollow toroid portion terminating at an annular lip that points upwardly towards an underside of the charge terminal, a recessed interior surface of the charge terminal defining the hollow region.

19. The guided surface waveguide probe of claim 17, wherein an electric field within the hollow region is substantially smaller than the electric field experienced near an exterior surface of the charge terminal.

20. The guided surface waveguide probe of claim 17, wherein the coil is part of a feed network, and the feed network further comprises a lumped element tank circuit comprising an inductor and a variable capacitor connected in parallel.