Systems and Methods for Directional Reactive Power Ground Plane Transmission

• US 20110080050A1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Original Assignee: UT-Battelle LLC
• Inventors: Thundat, Thomas George, Van Neste, Charles W.
• Application Number:
  US12/572,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20110080050A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• 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 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment

Abstract

Systems and methods for transmitting electrical power through a ground plane are provided. A phased array of transmitters transmits moving, reactive power ground waves through a ground plane to a focus. A receiver, disposed proximate the focus, collects and converts the reactive power to real power for use in driving an electrical load. By adjusting the timing between the individual transmitters in the array, the focus may be moved to accommodate a mobile receiver. The reactive power ground waves may enter the receiver by conduction or induction.

Claims

1. ) An electrical power transmission system for transmitting power through a ground plane comprising:

a phased array of two or more non-radiating transmitters capable of generating a series of moving, reactive power ground waves and transmitting the waves through the ground plane to a focus; and

a receiver, spaced apart from the array of transmitters and proximate the focus, for converting the series of moving, reactive power ground waves to real power for use in driving an electrical load.

2. ) The electrical power transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein the series of moving, reactive power ground waves are electromagnetic waves with each wave having a voltage and amperage that are out-of-phase with one another.

3. ) The electrical power transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein the phase and frequency of each transmitter in the array of transmitters is chosen so the series of reactive power ground waves merge at the focus.

4. ) The electrical power transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the individual transmitters in said array of transmitters operates at the same frequency or harmonic of that frequency and at a different phase than all the other transmitters in said array of transmitters.

5. ) The electrical power transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the individual transmitters in said array of transmitters is selected from the group consisting of a near field radio antenna, a Tesla coil, and a solid state electronic device.

6. ) The electrical power transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein the phase and frequency between each of the individual transmitters in said array of transmitters is directed by a controller to cause the focus to move.

7. ) The electrical power transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein said receiver contacts the ground plane through a conductive ground connection.

8. ) The electrical power transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein said receiver does not contact the ground plane and the reactive power ground waves are inductively transmitted to said receiver from the ground plane.

9. ) The electrical power transmission system as recited in claim 6 wherein said receiver is movable and the focus is movable in order to maintain close proximity with said receiver.

10. ) The electrical power transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein said receiver is a plurality of receivers.

11. ) The electrical power transmission system as recited in claim 1 wherein the electrical load is a device requiring electrical power to function.

12. ) A method of transmitting electrical power through a ground plane comprising the steps of:

a) generating reactive power with a phased array of two or more non-radiating transmitters;

b) transmitting a series of moving, reactive power ground waves with the transmitters through the ground plane to a focus;

c) collecting the series of reactive power ground waves with a receiver disposed proximate the focus; and

d) converting the series of reactive power ground waves to real power with the receiver.

13. ) The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of e) distributing the real power to a device requiring electrical power to function.

14. ) The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the series of reactive power ground waves are electromagnetic waves with each wave having voltage and amperage that are out-of-phase with one another.

15. ) The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the phase and frequency of each transmitter in the array of transmitters are chosen so the series of reactive power ground waves merge at the focus.

16. ) The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the transmitting step b) further includes directing the phase and frequency between each of the individual transmitters in said array of transmitters by a controller to cause the focus to move.

17. ) The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the collecting step is performed by induction.

18. ) The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the collecting and converting steps are performed by a moveable receiver.

19. ) The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the device requiring electrical power to function is a motor.

20. ) The method as recited in claim 13 wherein the device requiring electrical power to function is a battery charger.