WIRELESS LASER POWER TRANSMITTER
First Claim
1. A free-space lasing system for generating a laser beam, said system comprising:
- a power transmitting unit comprising a first retroreflector, and having an angular field of view;
at least one power receiver unit comprising a second retroreflector, and remotely located relative to said power transmitting unit;
a gain medium disposed between said first and second retroreflectors, in proximity to said first retroreflector of said power transmitting unit; and
an element for extracting energy from said beam,wherein said gain medium has a geometric form such that said lasing is maintained even when said beam is aligned over essentially said entire field of view.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical power beam transmission systems, with a directional light transmitter and receiver. The transmitter contains an amplifying laser medium, and this together with a retroreflector in the receiver, forms a laser resonator. When lasing sets in, the receiver can extract optical power through an output coupler and convert it to electrical power. The gain medium may be a disc having a thickness substantially smaller than its lateral dimensions. The laser resonator is operated as a stable resonator to ensure safe operation. This is achieved by use of an adaptive optical element, for reducing the diameter of the energy beam impinging on the gain medium, thereby increasing the overlap between the energy beam and the gain medium. As the transmitter-receiver distance is changed, such as by movement of the receiver, the adaptive optical element focal length changes to ensure that the cavity remains within its stability zone.
92 Citations
70 Claims
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1. A free-space lasing system for generating a laser beam, said system comprising:
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a power transmitting unit comprising a first retroreflector, and having an angular field of view; at least one power receiver unit comprising a second retroreflector, and remotely located relative to said power transmitting unit; a gain medium disposed between said first and second retroreflectors, in proximity to said first retroreflector of said power transmitting unit; and an element for extracting energy from said beam, wherein said gain medium has a geometric form such that said lasing is maintained even when said beam is aligned over essentially said entire field of view. - View Dependent Claims (3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 35, 36, 37, 38, 40, 69, 70)
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2. (canceled)
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4. (canceled)
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12-13. -13. (canceled)
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16. (canceled)
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18. (canceled)
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23. (canceled)
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30. (canceled)
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33-34. -34. (canceled)
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39. (canceled)
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41. (canceled)
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42. A wireless power receiver for receiving a beam of optical power;
- said receiver comprising;
a retroreflector for reflecting a major part of said beam; an adaptive optical element inserted in the path of said beam, adapted to focus said beam; and a light coupler capable of extracting optical power from said beam, wherein said receiver is adapted to receive power wirelessly from a remote transmitter unit. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53, 55, 56)
- said receiver comprising;
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46-47. -47. (canceled)
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50-51. -51. (canceled)
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54. (canceled)
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57. A method for operating a free space laser, said laser comprising:
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a first retroreflector having a gain medium juxtaposed thereto; a remotely located second retroreflector; an adaptive optical element juxtaposed to either of said first and said second retroreflectors; and an element for extracting energy from a laser beam reflected between said retro reflectors, said method comprising the sequential steps of; applying an input impulse to said adaptive optical element to provide it with an initial focusing power; and exciting said gain medium to induce lasing. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64)
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61. (canceled)
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65. A free space laser, comprising:
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a first retroreflector having a gain medium; a remotely located second retroreflector having juxtaposed thereto, an element for extracting energy from a laser beam reflected between said retroreflectors; and an adaptive optical element juxtaposed to either of said first and said second retroreflectors; wherein said adaptive optical element is dynamically configured to modify the resonator properties of said laser such that stable resonator modes are obtained. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68)
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Specification