Solid state solar to microwave energy converter system and apparatus

• US 3,933,323 A
• Filed: 03/20/1974
• Issued: 01/20/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: MacMaster, George H., Dudley, Kenneth W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blix, Trygve M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sauberer, Paul E.
• Application Number:
  US05/453,133
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 322/2 R, 310/4 R, 321/8 R, 331/DIG. 1, 331/94.5 R, 250/199, 136/206, 60/26, 60/203, 244/1 R, 244/158, 307/312, 307/311, 307/278
• US Class Current: 244/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/292 Space - satellite

Abstract

Solid state spaced-oriented means convert solar radiation into microwave energy which is amplified and beamed to earth as a source of electrical power. A large number of semiconductor devices operating in the current multiplication region are irradiated by single mode coherent light beam generation means which is pumped by solar energy. A neodymium yittrium aluminum iron garnet laser or CW gallium arsenide junction diode laser mode-locked at a predetermined microwave frequency, such as 3,000 MHz provide for generation of a light beam. The generated current is directly proportional to the radiant energy and is coupled from the semiconductor device array to antenna means for transmission to earth stations for conversion into low frequency electrical energy.

Claims

1. A system for converting solar energy into microwave energy comprising in combination;

a source of solar energy radiation;

means for collecting said solar energy operatively associated with a pulsed coherent radiant energy mode-locked laser beam source operative at a fixed predetermined microwave energy frequency;

solid state semiconductor amplifier means adapted to be irradiated by said radiant energy laser beam to generate an amplified microwave energy output at substantially said predetermined frequency; and

means for transmitting said amplified microwave energy to a utilization load.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said coherent beam source comprises a neodymium yittrium aluminum iron garnet material laser.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein said coherent beam source comprises a semiconductor material PN junction laser.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein said solid state semiconductor means comprise a phased array of a plurality of interconnected electrically reversed-bias PN junction silicon diode operating in the current multiplication region.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein said semiconductor diodes are electrically biased by a voltage source comprising an array of solar energy to DC electrical energy conversion means.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein said solar energy collection means, coherent beam source, solid state semiconductor amplifier means and said microwave energy transmitting means are oriented in outer space and said utilization load comprises energy receiving and electrical power conversion means on earth.