Power and imaging system for an airship

• US 20080265087A1
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Quinn, Edward W., Hariharan, Jeanette
• Granted Patent: US 7,744,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/30
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/00 Lighter-than-air aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/90 using synthetic aperture techniques , e.g. synthetic aperture radar [SAR] techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/0245 Radar with phased array antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/248 provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40

Abstract

A power transmission and imaging system for an airship comprises a transmission antenna array configured to transmit an energy beam to a patch rectenna carried by the airship. Coupled to the patch rectenna is a power distribution and control network that supplies rectified power delivered by the energy beam into the proper format for delivery to a power storage system and a motor control system. The power storage system comprises one or more batteries to store the transmitted energy, while the motor control system powers various propellers, blowers, and valves maintained by the airship in order to descend the airship to the ground. The rectenna may also function as an imaging system in real-time. The image processing system uses the patch rectenna to transmit and receive signals, and in turn store and process the return signals (images).

Claims

1. A power and imaging system for an airship, the system comprising:

an airship;

a power transmission system configured to transmit an energy beam;

a patch rectenna carried by said airship, wherein said energy beam is transmitted to said patch rectenna so as to supply power to said airship; and

a power distribution and control network coupled to said patch rectenna such that when said energy beam is transmitted to said patch rectenna, said control network converts said energy beam into power for use by said airship.

2. The power transmission and imaging system of claim 1, further comprising:

an airship transceiver coupled to said power distribution and control network, said airship transceiver generating a realignment feedback signal when the power received from said energy beam by said patch rectenna falls below a predetermined voltage threshold; and

a ground transceiver coupled to said power transmission system configured to repoint the position of said transmitted energy beam on said patch rectenna in response to the receipt of said realignment feedback signal from said ground transceiver.

3. The power transmission and imaging system of claim 1, wherein said power transmission system comprises a field laser detection and ranging (LADAR) system.

4. The power transmission and imaging system of claim 1, wherein said power transmission system comprises a phased array antenna system that includes a plurality of transmission antenna elements.

5. The power transmission and imaging system of claim 4, wherein said transmission antenna elements comprise a plurality of planar wave antenna elements.

6. The power transmission and imaging system of claim 4, wherein each said transmission antenna element is configured to receive individual excitation signals.

7. The power transmission and imaging system of claim 6, wherein said excitation signals are in phase with each other, such that the energy beam is broadside to said phased array antenna.

8. The power transmission and imaging system of claim 1, wherein said patch rectenna comprises a plurality of dipole antenna elements.

9. The power transmission and imaging system of claim 8, wherein said dipole antenna elements are comprised of nanofibers.

10. The power transmission and imaging system of claim 9, wherein said nanofibers are comprised of titanium.

11. The power transmission and imaging system of claim 8, further comprising:

a matched filter coupled between said dipole antenna elements and said power distribution and control network.

12. The power transmission and imaging system of claim 11, further comprising:

a power rectification network coupled between said matched filter and said power distribution and control network.

13. The power transmission and imaging system of claim 12, wherein said power rectification network comprises one or more MOSFETS.

14. The power transmission and imaging system of claim 12, wherein said patch

rectenna, said matched filter, and said power rectification network are integrated within a membrane.

15. The power transmission and imaging system of claim 14, wherein said airship has an envelope that contains a lifting gas and wherein said membrane is integrated into said envelope.

16. The power transmission and imaging system of claim 1, further comprising:

a signal generator coupled to said power distribution and control network, wherein said signal generator is configured to generate imaging signals that are transmitted by said patch rectenna, wherein any of said imaging signals returning to said patch rectenna are detected by said patch rectenna as image return signals.

17. The power transmission and imaging system of claim 16, further comprising:

an image memory coupled to said power distribution and control network, said image memory configured to store said image return signals.

18. The power transmission and imaging system of claim 17, wherein said power distribution and control network performs an analog to digital conversion of said image return signals stored at said image memory.

19. A method for remotely powering an airship comprising:

transmitting an energy beam from a power transmission system;

receiving said energy beam at a rectenna carried by the airship;

determining if the voltage output by said rectenna is above or below a predetermined threshold level;

transmitting a realignment feedback signal from the airship to said power transmission system if the voltage is below said predetermined threshold;

analyzing said realignment feedback signal; and

repainting said energy beam with respect to said rectenna.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

generating an imaging signal by said rectenna; and

detecting return signals of said imaging signal by said rectenna.