Radio frequency power transmission system

• US 8,816,632 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2010
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Smigel, John R., Winfield, Donald, Rotondo, Frank S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhanu, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US12/769,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20110266995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 320/101, 320/103, 320/108
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas
• 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

Abstract

A wireless power transmission system for use in a mobile asset comprising a host transmitter for providing at least one of a microwave or a lightwave energy signal, a receiver configured to receive said signal, a converter for converting said signal to a storable energy form, and a controller to control the transfer of storable energy from said converter to at least one energy storage device.

Claims

1. A wireless power transmission system comprising:

a first transmitter configured to selectively transmit a microwave energy signal;

a second transmitter configured to selectively transmit lightwave energy signal;

at least one receiver adapted to receive over the air the microwave energy signal and the lightwave energy signal;

at least one energy converting device configured to convert said received microwave energy signal and said received lightwave energy signal into a storable energy form;

an energy storage device coupled to the at least one energy converting device for storing said energy; and

a controller operative to control the delivery of storable energy from the energy converting device to the energy storage device,

wherein said controller is responsive to a global positioning system for providing positional information data to said first and second transmitters to facilitate directing said microwave energy signal and said lightwave energy signal to said at least one receiver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one receiver and the at least one energy converting device comprise a rectifying antenna configured to receive said microwave energy signal and convert said energy signal to direct current.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one receiver and the at least one energy converting device comprise at least one photovoltaic cell configured to receive and convert said lightwave energy signal into direct current.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one receiver and the at least one energy converting device comprise a hybrid array configured to receive and convert both said microwave and lightwave energy signals to direct current.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the hybrid array comprises at least one photovoltaic cell and at least one rectifying antenna.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises at least one capacitor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises at least one battery.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device comprises at least one capacitor coupled to at least one battery, the capacitor configured to be charged by said at least one energy converting device, said battery configured to be charged by said at least one capacitor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said controller controls the charging of said at least one battery by said at least one capacitor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one receiver is located on a vehicle, and wherein said first and second transmitters are arranged on a host platform.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said vehicle is an unmanned aircraft.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to monitor energy levels stored in said energy storage device, and detect if said energy levels fall below a predetermined threshold level.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second transmitters are configured to provide the microwave energy signal and the lightwave energy signal in parallel to said at least one receiver.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said second transmitter comprises one of a visible light, infrared, or ultraviolet laser.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein said vehicle comprises an electrically powered vehicle.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said vehicle comprises a hybrid vehicle having at least one electric motor and at least one non-electric engine.

15. A wireless power transmission system comprising:

at least one receiver adapted to receive over the air a microwave energy signal and a lightwave energy signal;

at least one energy converting device configured to convert said received microwave energy signal and said received lightwave energy signal into a storable energy form;

a first transmitter configured to selectively provide the microwave energy signal;

a second transmitter configured to selectively provide the lightwave energy signal;

an energy storage device coupled to the at least one energy converting device for storing said energy; and

a controller operative to control the delivery of storable energy from the energy converting device to the energy storage device,

wherein said controller is responsive to a global positioning system for providing positional information data to said first and second transmitters to facilitate directing said microwave energy signal and said lightwave energy signal to said at least one receiver.

18. A method for wirelessly transmitting power comprising the steps of:

receiving a global positioning system signal comprising positional information;

selectively wirelessly transmitting microwave signals in a direction indicated by the global positioning system signal by a first transmitter;

selectively wirelessly transmitting lightwave energy signals in a direction indicated by the global positioning system signal by a second transmitter;

receiving said microwave and lightwave signals over the air;

converting said signals to usable power; and

storing said usable power in at least one storage device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of storing said usable power in at least one storage device comprises storing said usable power in a capacitor, and discharging said capacitor into a battery.