US5068669A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power beaming system
Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc
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Filing: 1988-09-01
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Granted: 1991-11-26
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Expires: 2008-09-01
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for power beaming energy from a source at high frequencies and rectifying such energy to provide a source of DC energy is disclosed. The system operates at a frequency of at least 10 GHz and incorporates a rectenna array having a plurality of rectenna structures that utilize circuit elements formed with microstrip circuit techniques.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Koert
- 👤 James T. Cha
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:43
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q21/00; H01Q21/06; H01Q21/061; H01Q21/065; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/22; H01Q1/24; H01Q1/248; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S343/00; Y10S343/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A power beaming system comprising: a. a power transmission source capable of generating electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of at least 10 Gigahertz; b. a transmission antenna; c. a guide unit that guides said electromagnetic radiation generated by said power transmission source to said transmission antenna; d. a rectenna array located at a position remote from said antenna structure, said rectenna array comprising a plurality of multi-layer rectenna structures, each multi-layer rectenna structure including a first substrate layer having at least one receiving antenna provided thereon, a ground plane layer and a second substrate layer having circuit elements provided thereon, wherein said rectenna array includes a power combining network, said power combining network including a plurality of first current summing elements, each current summing element comprising a plurality of said multi-layer rectenna structures electrically connected in parallel, and at least one voltage summing element comprising a plurality of said first current summing elements electrically connected in series.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A power beaming system comprising: a. a power transmission source capable of generating electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of at least 10 Gigahertz; b. a transmission antenna; c. a guide unit that guides said electromagnetic radiation generated by said power transmission source to said transmission antenna; d. a rectenna array located at a position remote from said antenna structure, said rectenna array comprising a plurality of multi-layer rectenna structures, each multi-layer rectenna structure including a first substrate layer having at least one receiving antenna provided thereon, a ground plane layer and a second substrate layer having circuit elements provided thereon, wherein said rectenna array includes a power combining network, said power combining network including a plurality of first current summing elements, each current summing element comprising a plurality of said multi-layer rectenna structures electrically connected in parallel, and at least one voltage summing element comprising a plurality of said first current summing elements electrically connected in series.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A power beaming system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: i. a movable pedestal supporting said transmission antenna; ii. a direction beacon that generates a tracking signal indicative of the location of said rectenna array; iii. a pedestal control unit coupled to said pedestal; and iv. a receiver unit electrically coupled to the pedestal control unit that receives the tracking signal from the direction beacon and provides the tracking signal to the pedestal control unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A power beaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power transmission source generates said electromagnetic radiation at a frequency of at least 18 GHz.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A power beaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power transmission source generates electromagnetic radiation at frequency of about 28-44 GHz.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A power beaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power transmission source generates electromagnetic radiation at a frequency of about 35 GHz.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A power beaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power transmission source is a gyrotron.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A power beaming system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said guide unit provides mode conversion of the electromagnetic radiation generated by said gyrotron.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A power beaming system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said guide unit comprises a waveguide assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A power beaming system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said guide assembly comprises a beam waveguide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A power beaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receiving antenna of said multilayer rectenna structure receives said electromagnetic radiation independently of its polarization.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A power beaming system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said receiving antenna comprises a patch antenna.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A power beaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circuit elements comprise an impedance matching circuit, a diode and an output filter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A power beaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power combining network further comprises at least one second current summing element comprising a plurality of said voltage summing elements electrically connected in parallel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
75 words
A multi-layer rectenna structure comprising: a. a first substrate having at least one receiving antenna provided thereon; b. a second substrate having circuit elements provided thereon; and c. a ground plane located between said first and second substrate; and d. wherein said circuit elements comprise an impedance matching filter coupled to said receiving antenna via a coupling capacitance, a diode electrically coupled to said matching filter, and an output filter electrically coupled to said diode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
75 words
A multi-layer rectenna structure comprising: a. a first substrate having at least one receiving antenna provided thereon; b. a second substrate having circuit elements provided thereon; and c. a ground plane located between said first and second substrate; and d. wherein said circuit elements comprise an impedance matching filter coupled to said receiving antenna via a coupling capacitance, a diode electrically coupled to said matching filter, and an output filter electrically coupled to said diode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A multi-layer rectenna structure as claimed in claim 14, wherein said impedance matching filter and said output filter are formed using microstrip circuit techniques.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-11-25 | 1995-05-27 | 1995-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-25 | 1999-05-27 | 1999-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-25 | 2003-05-27 | 2003-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |