Beam power with receiver impingement detection

• US 20100079012A1
• 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 8,026,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/149
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• 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, comprising:

a power beaming unit configured to supply power to a receiving unit in the form of a power beam;

a guard beaming unit configured to produce a guard beam configured to substantially surround the power beam and differing in modulation, polarization, or character from the power beam; and

a beam interruption unit configured to respond to a direction from the receiving unit to prevent a detected imminent impingement on the power beam.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the beam interruption unit is configured to suspend or terminate the power beam to prevent the detected imminent impingement.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the beam interruption unit is configured to reroute the power beam to prevent the detected imminent impingement.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a beam combiner configured to combine the power beam and the guard beam in a substantially collinear arrangement.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the guard beam is substantially cylindrical.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the guard beam includes a plurality of beams arranged around the power beam.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the guard beam is configured to scan an area substantially surrounding the power beam.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the guard beam includes a plurality of substantially concentric beams.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the beam interruption unit is configured to determine a characteristic of an object impinging on the guard beam.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the characteristic of the object is selected from the group consisting of speed, direction, size, shape, and composition.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the guard beam is electromagnetic.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the guard beam is acoustic.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a beam optimization unit configured to use information received from the receiving unit to adjust a power beam characteristic.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the beam optimization unit is configured to adjust a beam spot size, shape, power, intensity, or power-time profile.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power within an enclosed space.

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

17. 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.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the power beaming unit is configured to gradually increase an amount of power beamed from the power beaming unit.

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

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the electromagnetic power has an optical frequency.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the electromagnetic power has an RF frequency.

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

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

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

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the direction from the receiving unit is delivered as an electromagnetic signal.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the direction from the receiving unit is delivered as a cessation of an electromagnetic signal.

27. A system for receiving beamed power from a power source, the beamed power including a guard beam substantially surrounding a power beam and differing in modulation, polarization, or character from the power beam, comprising:

a power receiving unit configured to accept the power beam;

a detection unit configured to recognize an imminent impingement on the power beam by detecting an impingement on the guard beam; and

a beam interruption signaling unit configured to transmit a signal to the power source indicating interruption of the guard beam.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the detection unit is configured to distinguish an impingement on the guard beam from an impingement on the power beam by recognizing modulation or polarization.

29. A method of supplying beamed power, comprising:

directing a composite power beam toward a receiving unit, the composite power beam including a main power beam and a guard beam substantially surrounding the main power beam, the guard beam differing in modulation, polarization, or character from the power beam;

receiving information from the receiving unit concerning an imminent impingement on the guard beam; and

responding to prevent the imminent impingement on the power beam.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein responding to prevent an imminent impingement on the power beam includes suspending or terminating the power beam.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein responding to prevent an imminent impingement on the power beam includes rerouting the power beam.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising combining the power beam and the guard beam in a substantially collinear arrangement to form the composite power beam.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the guard beam is substantially cylindrical.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the guard beam includes a plurality of beams arranged around the power beam.

35. The method of claim 29, further comprising scanning the guard beam in an area substantially surrounding the power beam.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the guard beam includes a plurality of substantially concentric beams.

37. The method of claim 29, further comprising producing a guard beam by reflecting energy from a retroreflector array located at the receiving unit.

38. The method of claim 29, further comprising determining a characteristic of an object impinging on the guard beam.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the characteristic of the object is selected from the group consisting of speed, direction, size, shape, and composition.

40. The method of claim 29, wherein the guard beam is electromagnetic.

41. The method of claim 29, wherein the guard beam is acoustic.

42. The method of claim 29, further comprising using the monitored received reflection to adjust a power beam characteristic.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein adjust includes adjusting a beam spot size, shape, power, intensity, or power-time profile.

44. The method of claim 29, wherein directing a composite power beam includes beaming power within an enclosed space.

45. The method of claim 29, wherein directing a composite power beam includes beaming power directly to the receiving unit.

46. The method of claim 29, wherein directing a composite power beam includes beaming power to a beam-directing element configured to redirect the power to the receiving unit.

47. The method of claim 29, wherein directing a composite power beam includes gradually increasing an amount of power beamed from the power beaming unit.

48. The method of claim 29, wherein the main power beam is electromagnetic.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the main power beam has an optical frequency.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the main power beam has an RF frequency.

51. The method of claim 29, wherein the main power beam is laser-generated.

52. The method of claim 29, wherein directing a composite power beam includes directing a pulsed main power beam.

53. The method of claim 29, wherein directing a composite power beam includes directing a continuous main power beam.

54. The method of claim 29, wherein receiving information from the receiving unit includes receiving a signal from the receiving unit.

55. The method of claim 29, wherein receiving information from the receiving unit includes ceasing to receive a signal from the receiving unit.