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.

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
       [0001]    This invention was made with government support under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725 awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The government has certain rights in the invention. 
     
    
     CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0002]    None. 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    None. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present disclosure generally relates to electrical power transmission systems and methods, and more specifically to reactive power ground wave distribution for use with near, remote, stationary, and mobile devices requiring electrical power to function. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0007]    Electrical power is commonly supplied by a generation source to an electrical load in one of two ways: alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC). With AC current, the electrons flow multidirectionally, sometimes flowing in a first direction and then flowing in the opposite direction. With DC current, the electrons flow unidirectionally from the source to the load. Electrical power distribution for use in communities and businesses is typically supplied by AC current from a grid, while DC current is typically supplied by batteries, fuel cells or photovoltaic cells to power remote, mobile or portable devices such as sensors, vehicles, and radios for example. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Systems for transmitting electrical power to electronic devices requiring electrical power to function are provided. The systems include an array of two or more non-radiating transmitters for generating a series of moving, reactive power ground waves and transmitting the waves through a ground plane to a focus. Also included is a receiver proximate the focus for converting the ground waves to real power for use in driving an electrical load. 
         [0009]    Methods of transmitting electrical power to electronic devices requiring electrical power to function are also provided. A series of moving, reactive power ground waves are generated and then transmitted with an array of two or more transmitters through a ground plane to a focus. The reactive power ground waves are collected by a receiver disposed proximate the focus and then converted to real power for use by one or more devices. 
         [0010]    These and other objects, features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the following detailed description and accompanying illustrations of multiple examples, where corresponding identifiers represent like features between the various figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an orthographic, time-lapse view illustrating an electrical power transmission system in accordance with an example of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an orthographic view illustrating a first exemplary pattern of reactive power waves propagating from a transmitter array with a mobile receiver in a first position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an orthographic view illustrating a second exemplary pattern of reactive power waves propagating from a transmitter array with a mobile receiver in a second position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating the various method steps for transmitting directional reactive power through a ground plane. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    When AC power is transmitted, both the voltage and current waves are sinusoidal shaped, alternating up and down many times a second. If the waves of voltage and current coincide, then multiplication of voltage and current occurs and real power is available. The unit of real power is the ‘Watt’ for Volts times Amps. When the voltage and current are peaking at different times, some amount of reactive power is being produced at the same time as the real power. The unit of reactive power is the ‘VAR’ for Volt-Ampere-Reactive. How much reactive power and in which direction it is flowing, depends on how different these peaking times are. When the voltage and current are generated with their peaks one quarter out of phase (e.g. 90 degrees out of phase) with respect to time, then the voltage peaks occur where the current shifts from positive to negative or vice-versa. In this example, only reactive power is being transmitted through the conductor. 
         [0016]    An interesting phenomenon produced from reactive power generation is its ability to be transmitted by a single conductor without a return path. Electrical energy is transmitted via a single conductor, and through reflection of the load, that energy returns to the source. Thus a pseudo closed loop circuit is formed. Through resonant coupling, the reactive waves associated with the single conductor may be collected and converted back to real power. The real power can then be used to power a load. 
         [0017]    Reactive power transfer resembles an oscillator, where loading the oscillator damps the system. The dampening is seen by the source, causing the source to work harder to keep the oscillations from dwindling. By replacing the single wire with a ground plane such as an earth-ground for example, it becomes possible to use the earth as the single conductor, thus allowing transmission of electrical power to any point on the globe without the need for separate conductors. 
         [0018]    Another phenomenon is that of time reversal phased arraying. When multiple sources of disturbance are geometrically aligned, and the timing of their individual disturbances made into a pattern, it becomes possible to constructively and destructively add their disturbances together. The constructive disturbances will merge together to form a predefined focus, such as a point, area, beam, and ring, for example. At the focus, a maximum effect is observed with very little to no effect in areas surrounding the focus. Adjustment of the timing (e.g. phase and frequency) between two of more reactive power wave sources allows the movement of that focus. The movement of the focus allows the movement of a receiver, and thus the movement of a device requiring electric power to function. 
         [0019]    With reference first to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary electrical power transmission system  10  will now be described in greater detail. A phased array  12  of two or more non-radiating transmitters  14  produces moving reactive power waves  16  by modifying the alternating current output so the voltage and current are not in phase. With the voltage and current out-of-phase, some reactive power is produced. With the voltage and current configured to be one quarter out of phase (e.g. 90 degrees out of phase) then a maximum amount of reactive power is produced. The individual, reactive power waves  16  propagate outward and away from the transmitter  14 , forming concentric rings when viewed over time. 
         [0020]    The transmitter array  12  includes two or more individual, non-radiating transmitters  14  spaced apart from one another. A non-radiating transmitter is defined as an electrical device that produces maximized near field effect and very little, if any, far field effect. The near field effect is generally defined as covering a distance of two wavelengths or less. Such transmitters  14  may include near field radio antennas, Tesla coils, or solid state electronic devices for example. The transmitters  14  may be positioned in a geometric pattern such as a line, circle, clover, cross, U, V, X, Y, or some other pattern to improve the time reversal phase arraying of the waves. While only three transmitters  14  disposed in a single line pattern are illustrated in  FIG. 1 , it is to be understood that additional transmitters  14  are contemplated and that additional transmitters  14  will generally transmit additional reactive power. A conductive ground connection  18 , such as a copper or steel post, plate, spring or strap for example, conveys the reactive power from each transmitter  14  to a ground plane  20 . Additionally, an individual transmitter  14  or the entire array  12  of transmitters may be fixed or may be mobile. 
         [0021]    The operation timing of the transmitter  14 , defined by the phase and frequency, causes the reactive power ground waves  16  to constructively and destructively combine with one another in a phased array. It is this time reversal phased arraying that produces one or more focuses  22  that are located at predefined locations in the ground plane  20 . Generally, all transmitters  14  in the array  12  will operate at the same frequency or harmonics of that frequency, with only the phase of each transmitter  14  being different from the next. Essentially, the operating frequency is any integer multiple of the fundamental frequency. The geometric location of each transmitter  14  in the phased array  12  and the operational timing contribute to the merging of waves  16  at the predefined locations of the foci  22 . 
         [0022]    As discussed briefly earlier, a conductive ground connection  18  transfers the reactive power ground waves  16  from the transmitters  14  to the ground plane  20 . The ground plane  20  can be any conductive or semi-conductive body that may include a wire, plate, liquid, solid, celestial body, and ionized gas for example. In some examples, the ground plane  20  is the earth. With the earth functioning as the ground plane  20 , traditional infrastructure such as transmission lines and utility poles are not required for transferring power. 
         [0023]    One or more receivers  24 , spaced apart from the transmitter array  12 , collect the reactive power ground waves  16  proximate the focus  22 . The receivers  24  convert the reactive power to real power through resonant coupling, also known as wireless energy transfer. Each ground wave receiver  24  may include a near-field radio antenna, Tesla coil, or solid state electronic device, for example. Generally, the receiver  24  is tuned to have the same resonant frequency as the moving ground waves, or harmonics thereof. Essentially, this is any integer multiple of the fundamental frequency. If the receiver  24  is located proximate a predefined focus  22  of the reactive power ground waves  16 , electrical energy will be transmitted to the receiver  24 . If the receiver  24  is outside of the proximity of the focus  22 , the energy received will be near zero. Multiple receivers  24  may be powered if the time constant of each receiver  24  is slow enough to allow the movement of the focus  22  between each receiver  24 , or if the focus  22  is large enough to accommodate multiple receivers  24  in a given focus area. 
         [0024]    If the timing (e.g. phase and frequency) between the individual transmitters  14  is altered, the physical location, size and shape of a focus  22  can be altered. This is best illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Please note that  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are illustrative of two different time periods, where  FIG. 2  illustrates a time that is earlier than  FIG. 3 . Here, the focus  22  moves along the ground plane  20  in a predefined path to power one or more mobile receivers  24 . In this particular example, a zero emissions vehicle moves along a roadway from a first location in  FIG. 2  to a second location in  FIG. 3 . By modifying the frequency of the waves  16 , the focus moves laterally in and out, while modifying the phase of the waves  16  sweeps the focus  22  back and forth. By modifying the frequency and phase simultaneously as discussed earlier, the path, size and shape of the focus  22  may be modified, as discussed earlier. 
         [0025]    A manual, semiautomatic or fully automatic controller  26  modifies the timing of the transmitters  14  to direct the path, size and shape of the focus  22  on the ground plane  20 . The controller  26  may be directed by a predefined sequence of commands programmed into a computer for example. In another example, the controller  26  is commanded manually by an operator with a joystick. In yet another example, the controller  26  is directed by a receiver  24 . In this particular example, the receiver  24  may move in any direction while communicating the instantaneous directional information to the controller  26  by radiating radio waves for example. The controller  26  then modulates the timing of the transmitters  14  to ensure a focus  22  is proximate the receiver  24  at all times as it moves. 
         [0026]    The reactive power ground waves may be directly collected by the receiver  24 , from the ground plane  20 , through a conductive ground connection  18  such as a copper or steel post, plate, spring or strap for example. In one example, the ground connection  18  transfers the reactive power from the ground plane  20  to a single receiver  24  at the focus  22 . In another example, a receiver  24  does not directly contact the ground plane  20  and the reactive power ground waves are inductively transmitted to the receiver  24 . A magnetic or electric field at the focus  22  is sufficient to induce charge movement in the receiver  24 . 
         [0027]    Any load  28  that requires electrical power to operate may be connected to a reactive power ground wave receiver  24 . A load  28  can be a light bulb, radio, battery charger, and motor, for example. In one example, the load  28  is a lamp in a perimeter security system. In another example, the load  28  is a battery charger for use by soldiers in the field. In this example, the need to carry spare batteries for weaponry and communication devices into combat is eliminated. In another example, the load  28  is a lamp array used to illuminate a roadway as a vehicle passes. In another example, the load is a motor for powering a zero or low emissions vehicle. In this example, the focus  22  is swept along a predefined path or roadway, powering the vehicle&#39;s motor through induction as it moves from position A to position B. In a similar example, a vehicle&#39;s battery is recharged automatically as the vehicle moves, or is recharged at a charging station without the need for a cable to transfer the power. As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the examples described above are for illustrative purposes only, and are in no way to be considered a comprehensive list of possible uses and applications. 
         [0028]    Referring lastly to  FIG. 4 , various method steps for transmitting reactive power  30  are illustrated. In the first step represented by block  32 , reactive power is generated by an array of two or more non-radiating transmitters as described in detail above. The reactive power is transmitted in a series of moving, reactive power ground waves through a ground plane to a focus in a second step represented by block  34 . Once the moving, reactive power ground waves merge at the predefined focus, a receiver disposed proximate the focus collects the waves in the third step represented by block  36 . After the receiver has collected the series of moving, reactive power ground waves, the receiver converts the reactive power to real power in the fourth step represented by block  38 . Finally, in a fifth step represented by block  40 , the real power is distributed to a device requiring electrical power to function. 
         [0029]    Other alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art having reviewed the figures and read the foregoing description. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace those alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and variations as fall within the broad scope of the appended claims. The technology disclosed and claimed is available for license by the assignee of record.