BEAM POWER WITH RECEIVER PRIORITY SELECTION

• US 20150318897A1
• Filed: 07/10/2015
• Published: 11/05/2015
• 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: Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Nugent, Thomas J. Jr., Weaver, Thomas Allan, Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y.H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,912,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• 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: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

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

1-53. -53. (canceled)

54. A power source configured to beam power to a receiving unit, comprising:

a power beaming unit configured to beam power to a receiving unit;

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

receiving a first request for power from a first receiving unit including a first power specification request; and

receiving a second request for power from a second receiving unit including a second power specification request; and

a decision unit configured to determine a receiving unit to supply with power by;

determining a relative priority for the first and second requests according to a predetermined selection method; and

instructing the power beaming unit to beam power to the receiving unit having a higher determined priority.

55. The power source of claim 54, wherein at least one of the first and second power specification requests includes a datum selected from the group consisting of power type, wavelength, pulse characteristics, power amount, polarization, power-vs-time profile, time window, acceptable price, ability to pay, mode of payment, and identifying information for the receiving unit.

56. The power source of claim 54, wherein determining a relative priority includes determining relative profitability for the first and second power specification requests.

57. The power source of claim 54, wherein determining a relative priority includes determining availability of power corresponding to the first and second power specification requests.

58. The power source of claim 54, wherein the decision unit is further configured to instruct the power beaming unit to beam power to the receiving unit having a lower determined priority.

59. The power source of claim 54, wherein instructing the power beaming unit to beam power includes sending a signal to the power beaming unit.

60. The power source of claim 54, wherein instructing the power beaming unit to beam power includes sending a signal to a remote unit configured to instruct the power beaming unit.

61. A system for supplying beamed power to a plurality of receiving units, comprising:

a first power beaming unit configured to beam power;

a second power beaming unit configured to beam power;

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

receiving a first request for power from a first receiving unit including a first power specification request; and

receiving a second request for power from a second receiving unit including a second power specification request; and

a decision unit configured to determine a receiving unit to supply with power by;

determining a relative priority for the first and second requests according to a predetermined selection method;

using the determined relative priority to select a power beaming unit to beam power to the receiving unit having a higher determined relative priority; and

instructing the selected power beaming unit to beam power to the receiving unit having the higher determined relative priority.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the decision unit is further configured to select a power beaming unit to beam power to the receiving unit having a lower determined relative priority, and to instruct the selected power beaming unit to beam power to the receiving unit having the lower determined relative priority.

63. The system of claim 61, wherein at least one of the first and second power specification requests includes a datum selected from the group consisting of power type, wavelength, pulse characteristics, power amount, polarization, power-vs-time profile, time window, acceptable price, ability to pay, mode of payment, and identifying information for the receiving unit.

64. The system of claim 61, wherein determining a relative priority includes determining relative profitability for the first and second power specification requests.

65. The system of claim 61, wherein determining a relative priority includes determining availability of power corresponding to the first and second power specification requests.

66. The system of claim 61, wherein instructing the selected power beaming unit to beam power includes sending a signal to the selected power beaming unit.

67. The system of claim 61, wherein instructing the selected power beaming unit to beam power includes sending a signal to a remote unit configured to instruct the selected power beaming unit.

68. A system for receiving beamed power from a power source, comprising:

a power receiving unit configured;

to receive a broadcast signal from a power beaming system indicating a willingness to supply power;

to respond to the broadcast signal with a request for power, the request for power including a power specification request; and

to receive a power beam from the power beaming system.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein the power specification request includes a datum selected from the group consisting of power type, wavelength, pulse characteristics, power amount, polarization, power-vs-time profile, time window, acceptable price, ability to pay, mode of payment, and identifying information for the receiving unit.

70. The system of claim 68, wherein the received power complies with the power specification request.

71. The system of claim 68, wherein responding to the broadcast signal includes responding along the same path as the broadcast signal.

72. The system of claim 68, wherein responding to the broadcast signal includes responding along a different path than the broadcast signal.