Beam power with multipoint broadcast

• US 20100079009A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Weaver, Thomas A., Nugent, Thomas J. JR., Wood, Lowell L. JR., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Wood, Victoria Y.H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,058,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/149
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/15 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• 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 system for supplying beamed power to a receiving unit, comprising:

a location unit configured to locate a target receiving unit in need of power by

broadcasting a signal indicative of the system'"'"'s ability to supply power; and

receiving a request for power from the receiving unit in response to the broadcast signal; and

a plurality of power beaming units, each configured to beam power to a receiving unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the location unit is colocated with one of the plurality of power beaming units.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system includes a plurality of location units.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each power beaming unit is colocated with a member of the plurality of location units.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a decision unit configured to designate a member of the plurality of power beaming units to beam power to a receiving unit in response to a request therefrom.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the decision unit is configured to designate the member of the plurality of power beaming units in closest physical proximity to the requesting receiving unit.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the decision unit is configured to determine an unobstructed power beam path length from each member of the plurality of power beaming units to the requesting receiving unit, and to designate the member of the plurality of power beaming units having the shortest unobstructed power beam path length.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the decision unit is configured to designate a member of the plurality of power beaming units having the highest projected power intensity.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the decision unit is configured to designate a member of the plurality of power beaming units having a power characteristic corresponding to a characteristic requested by the receiving unit.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the power characteristic is selected from the group consisting of power type, wavelength, pulse characteristics, power amount, polarization, power-vs-time profile, and time window.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the decision unit is configured to designate a member of the plurality of power beaming units having a transaction characteristic corresponding to a characteristic requested by the receiving unit.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the transaction characteristic is selected from the group consisting of acceptable price, ability to pay, mode of payment, and identifying information for the receiving unit.

13. The system of claim 5, wherein the decision unit is configured to determine whether to initiate power beaming.

14. The system of claim 5, wherein the decision unit is configured to determine whether to suspend power beaming.

15. The system of claim 5, wherein the decision unit is configured to determine whether to terminate power beaming.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the location unit is configured to receive a request for power in the form of a transmission from the receiving unit.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the location unit is configured to receive a request for power in the form of a reflection of the broadcast signal from the receiving unit.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the request for power from the receiving unit includes location information for the receiving unit.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the location information for the receiving unit is encoded in a signal received from the receiving unit.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the location information for the receiving unit is determinable from a path of a signal received from the receiving unit.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the location unit is configured to determine the path of the received signal by scanning.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the location unit is configured to determine the path of the received signal by imaging.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the location unit is configured to broadcast an electromagnetic signal.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the location unit is configured to broadcast an acoustic signal.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the location unit is configured to receive a request for power including information describing power needs.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the information describing power needs includes at least one datum selected from the group consisting of power type, wavelength, pulse characteristics, power amount, polarization, power-vs-time profile, and time window.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the information describing power needs includes at least one datum selected from the group consisting of acceptable price, ability to pay, mode of payment, and identifying information for the receiving unit.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the location unit is configured to exchange data with the receiving unit.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the location unit is configured to transmit data to the receiving unit by modulating the beamed power from a member of the plurality of power beaming units.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the location unit is configured to transmit data to the receiving unit via a separate channel from the beamed power from a member of the plurality of power beaming units.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of power beaming units is configured to beam power directly to the receiving unit.

32. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of power beaming units is configured to beam power to a beam-directing element configured to redirect the power to the receiving unit.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of power beaming units is configured to gradually increase an amount of power beamed from the power beaming unit.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of power beaming units is configured to beam electromagnetic power.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the electromagnetic power has an optical frequency.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the electromagnetic power has a radio frequency.

37-73. -73. (canceled)

74. A method of supplying beamed power from a plurality of power beaming units to a receiving unit, comprising:

broadcasting a signal indicating an ability to supply power;

receiving a request for power from the receiving unit in response to the broadcast signal; and

beaming power from one of the plurality of power beaming units to the receiving unit in response to the request.

75-141. -141. (canceled)

142. A method of requesting power from one of a plurality of power beaming units, the method comprising:

receiving a broadcast signal including location information for a plurality of power beaming units;

selecting a subset of the plurality of power beaming units for a power request; and

transmitting a request signal requesting power transmission from the subset.

143. The method of claim 142, wherein receiving a broadcast signal includes receiving a plurality of broadcast signals.

144. The method of claim 142, wherein receiving a broadcast signal includes receiving a broadcast signal from each member of the plurality of power beaming units.

145. The method of claim 142, wherein receiving a broadcast signal includes receiving a single signal describing all members of the plurality of power beaming units.

146. The method of claim 142, wherein receiving a broadcast signal includes receiving information about power transmission characteristics of at least one of the power beaming units.

147. The method of claim 142, wherein selecting a subset includes determining which members of the plurality of power beaming units are compatible with a power receiver.

148. The method of claim 142, further comprising receiving a power transmission from at least one member of the subset.