Patent Publication Number: US-2015077036-A1

Title: Wireless power distribution system for military applications

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present disclosure is related to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/891,430 filed May 10, 2013, entitled “Methodology For Pocket-forming”; Ser. No. 13/925,469 filed Jun. 24, 2013, entitled “Methodology for Multiple Pocket-Forming”; Ser. No. 13/946,082 filed Jul. 19, 2013, entitled “Method for 3 Dimensional Pocket-forming”; Ser. No. 13/891,399 filed May 10, 2013, entitled “Receivers for Wireless Power Transmission” and Ser. No. 13/891,445 filed May 10, 2013, entitled “Transmitters For Wireless Power Transmission”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by these references. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to electrical power distribution, and more particularly to wireless power distribution on military expeditions and camps. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In military situations, electrical energy becomes indispensable to support the front line and enable defense personnel to live, work, train and deploy at home and overseas or remote locations, Many electrical devices used on the field may require a source of power and thus, batteries are carried, and mobile power generators are transported and installed in remote locations. Power generators may include: mobile diesel generators, solar photovoltaic arrays, wind turbines or any source that serves as an electrical power source. Usually when a military expedition arrives in a new location, installation of a power distribution system is necessary, which usually involves complex, tedious and time consuming wired connections. Military camps or settlements may also be required to move from one location to another frequently, which may incur in continuously installing and uninstalling the power distribution system. Installing and uninstalling the power distribution system may be a tedious process. 
     When engaged in combat, soldiers may carry equipment such as radios, night vision goggles, rifle scopes and/or other military equipment that may require an electrical power source. Soldiers carry batteries as a power source for these devices; however, carrying batteries adds additional weight to the equipment each soldier carries and switching old used batteries for new ones under the stress of battle may be troubling and impractical in some situations. 
     Thus, a need exists for an electrical power source that addresses the aforementioned issues. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure is a power distribution system for military applications. The power distribution system includes a wireless transmitter coupled with a power generator source such as a mobile diesel generator, a solar photovoltaic array, wind turbines or any reliable power source or combination thereof. The wireless power transmitter uses energy from the power generator source and creates pockets of energy at different determined locations. Electrical devices may be coupled with wireless receiver components that may use the pockets of energy to charge or power the electrical devices. The power distribution system may avoid tedious wired connections and may be more easily installed and uninstalled. 
     A method for a wireless power distribution system for military applications, comprising the steps of: transmitting controlled radio frequency waves from a pocket-forming transmitter to converge pockets of energy in 3-d space to form the wireless power distribution system; connecting a power source to the transmitter; and capturing the pockets of energy by a receiver to charge or power an electronic device connected to the receiver in the wireless power distribution system. 
     A method for a wireless power distribution system for military applications comprising the step of transmitting pockets of energy from a pocket-forming transmitter including a housing suitable for battlefield use, at least two antenna elements, at least one RF integrated circuit, at least one digital signal processor having security logic and a communication component and the step of receiving the pockets of energy by a receiver connected to an electronic device having a battery including a housing for battlefield use, at least one antenna element, one rectifier, one power converter, a security code and a communication component to establish communication with the pocket-forming transmitter for continuing to receive the pockets of energy from the pocket-forming transmitter while the electronic device is mobile and within a predetermined range of the transmitter with the security code of the receiver recognized by the security logic of the transmitter. 
     In another embodiment the wireless transmitter may be mounted with the power source over a vehicle in order to provide mobility. The vehicle may accompany soldiers into the battlefield and provide Wireless energy to any electrical devices the soldiers use, which may in turn prevent the need to use replaceable batteries. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present disclosure are described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, which are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. Unless indicated as representing prior art, the figures represent aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates wireless power transmission using pocket-forming, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a component level embodiment for a transmitter, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a component level embodiment for a receiver, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a military camp with a wireless power distribution system, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a mobile power source for battlefield support, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a mobile power source for remote control vehicles, according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Definitions 
     “Packet-forming” may refer to generating two or more RF waves Which converge in 3-d space, forming controlled constructive and destructive interference patterns. 
     “Pockets of energy” may refer to areas or regions of space where energy or power may accumulate in the form of constructive interference patterns of RF waves. 
     “Null-space” may refer to areas or regions of space where pockets of energy do not form because of destructive interference patterns of RF waves. 
     “Transmitter” may refer to a device, including a chip which may generate two or more RF signals, at least one RF signal being phase shifted and gain. adjusted with respect to other RF signals, substantially all of which pass through one or more RF antenna such that focused RF signals are directed to a target. 
     “Receiver” may refer to a device which may include at least one antenna, at least one rectifying circuit and at least one power converter for powering or charging an electronic device using RF waves. 
     “Adaptive pocket-forming” may refer to dynamically adjusting pocket-forming to regulate power on one or more targeted receivers. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, which may not be to scale or to proportion, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings and claims, are not meant to be limiting, Other embodiments may be used and/or and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates wireless power transmission  100  using pocket-forming. A transmitter  102  may transmit controlled Radio Frequency (RF) waves  104  which may converge in 3-d space. These RF waves may be controlled through phase and/or relative amplitude adjustments to form constructive and destructive interference patterns (pocket-forming). Pockets of energy  106  may form at constructive interference patterns and can be 3-dimensional in shape whereas null-spaces may be generated at destructive interference patterns. A receiver  108  may then utilize pockets of energy produced by pocket-forming for charging or powering an electronic device, for example a laptop computer  110  and thus effectively providing wireless power transmission  100 . In some embodiments, there can be multiple transmitters  102  and/or multiple receivers  108  for powering various electronic devices, for example smartphones, tablets, music players, toys and others at the same time. In other embodiments, adaptive pocket-forming may be used to regulate power on electronic devices. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a component level embodiment for a transmitter  200  which may be utilized to provide wireless power transmission  100  as described in  FIG. 1 . Transmitter  200  may include a housing  202  where at least two or more antenna elements  204 , at least one RF integrated circuit (RFIC  206 ). at least one digital signal processor (DSP) or micro-controller  208 , and one optional communications component  210  may be included. Housing  202  can be made of any suitable material which may allow for signal or wave transmission and/or reception, for example plastic or hard rubber, Antenna elements  204  may include suitable antenna types for operating in frequency bands such as 900 MHz, 2.5 GHz or 5.8 GHz as these frequency bands conform to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations part 18 (Industrial, Scientific and Medical equipment). Antenna elements  204  may include vertical or horizontal polarization, right hand or left hand polarization, elliptical polarization, or other suitable polarizations as well as suitable polarization combinations. Suitable antenna types may include, for example, patch antennas with heights from about ⅛ inches to about 6 inch and widths from about ⅛ inches to about 6 inch. Other antenna elements  204  types can be used, for example meta-materials, dipole antennas among others. RFIC  206  may include a proprietary Chip for adjusting phases and/or relative magnitudes of RF signals which may serve as inputs for antenna elements  204  for controlling pocket-forming. These RF signals may be produced using an external power supply  212  and a local oscillator chip (not shown) using a suitable piezoelectric material. Micro-controller  208  may then process information send by a receiver through its own antenna elements for determining optimum times and locations for pocket-forming. In some embodiments, the foregoing may be achieved through communications component  210 . Communications component  210  may be based on standard wireless communication protocols which may include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or ZigBee. In addition, communications component  210  may be used to transfer other information such as an identifier for the device or user, battery level, location or other such information. Other communications component  210  may be possible which may include radar, infrared cameras or sound devices for sonic triangulation for determining the device&#39;s position. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a component level embodiment for a receiver  300  which can be used for powering or charging an electronic device as exemplified in wireless power transmission  100 . Receiver  300  may include a housing  302  where at least one antenna element  304 , one rectifier  306 , one power converter  308  and an optional communications component  310  may be included, Housing  302  can be made of any suitable material which may allow for signal or wave transmission and/or reception, for example plastic or hard rubber. Housing  302  may be an external hardware that may be added to different electronic equipment, for example in the form of cases, or can be embedded within electronic equipment as well. Antenna element  304  may include suitable antenna types for operating in frequency bands similar to the bands described for transmitter  200  from  FIG. 2 . Antenna element  304  may include vertical or horizontal polarization, right hand or left hand polarization, elliptical polarization, or other suitable polarizations as well as suitable polarization combinations. Using multiple polarizations can be beneficial in devices where there may not be a preferred orientation during usage or whose orientation may vary continuously through time, for example a smartphone or portable gaming system. On the contrary, for devices with well-defined orientations, for example a two-handed video game controller, there might be a preferred polarization for antennas which may dictate a ratio for the number of antennas of a given polarization. Suitable antenna types may include patch antennas with heights from about ⅛ inches to about 6 inch and widths from about ⅛ inches to about 6 inch. Patch antennas may have the advantage that polarization may depend on connectivity, i.e. depending on which side the patch is fed, the polarization may change. This may further prove advantageous as a receiver, such as receiver  300 , may dynamically modify its antenna polarization to optimize wireless power transmission. Rectifier  306  may include diodes or resistors, inductors or capacitors to rectify the alternating current (AC) voltage generated by antenna element  304  to direct current (DC) voltage. Rectifier  306  may be placed as close as is technically possible to antenna element  304  to minimize losses. After rectifying AC voltage, DC voltage may be regulated using power converter  308 . Power converter  308  can be a DC-DC converter which may help provide a constant voltage output, regardless of input, to an electronic device, or as in this embodiment to a battery  312 . Typical voltage outputs can be from about 5 volts to about 10 volts. Lastly, communications component  310 , similar to that of transmitter  200  from  FIG. 2 , may be included in receiver  300  to communicate with a transmitter  200  or to other electronic equipment, 
       FIG. 4  is an example embodiment of a power distribution system  400  in a military camp where troops may be settled in remote locations. power distribution system  400  may include a mobile power generator  402 , which may serve to power electrical equipment, Mobile power generator  402  may be a mobile diesel generator as illustrated in  FIG. 4  or other sources such as solar photovoltaic arrays, wind turbines or any reliable power source or combination thereof Coupled with mobile power generator  402  may be a transmitter  200 , which may enable wireless power transmission  100 . Transmitter  200  may use mobile power generator  402  as a power source to form pockets of energy  106 . Pockets of energy  106  may form at constructive interference patterns and can be 3-dimensional in shape whereas mill-spaces may be generated at destructive interference patterns. Electrical devices  404  such as radios, laptops or any devices requiring a power input may be coupled with a receiver  300 , Receiver  300  may then utilize pockets of energy  106  produced by pocket-Twining for charging or powering electrical devices  404 . 
     Transmitter  200  may form pockets of energy  106  covering a range from about a few feet to hundreds of feet depending on the size of the antenna array. For the foregoing application, about 30 to about 60 feet may suffice. Additional transmitters  200  may be used to extend the distance in a power distribution system. A central transmitter  200  coupled with mobile power generator  402  may serve as a central distribution center while additional transmitters  200  may be placed at a distance and retransmit energy received from the central transmitter to reach greater distances. Each transmitter  200  size may be relative to the desired transmission distance. 
       FIG. 5  is another example embodiment of a power distribution system  500 . A transmitter  200  coupled with a mobile power generator  402  may be mounted over a military vehicle  502  in order to add mobility. Military vehicle  502  may be any vehicle with enough robustness and ruggedness for battlefield applications such as a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle (HMMWV/Humvee), armored trucks, tanks or any vehicle capable of carrying transmitter  200  coupled with mobile power generator  402 . Military vehicle  502  may accompany soldiers into the battlefield and serve as a power source for electrical devices  404  carried by soldiers. Electrical devices  404  carried by soldiers may be coupled with receivers  300  in order to receive energy from transmitter  200 . 
       FIG. 6  is another embodiment of power distribution system  600  where remote controlled vehicles  602  designed for espionage, detecting mines or disabling bombs may be powered wirelessly. In this embodiment, remote control and power may be critical factors to prevent exposure or harm to human soldiers  604 . Remote controlled vehicle  602  may be coupled with a receiver  300 . A transmitter  200  coupled with a mobile power generator  402  may form pockets of energy  106  at constructive interference patterns that may be 3-dimensional in shape whereas null-spaces may be generated at destructive interference patterns. A receiver  300  may then utilize pockets of energy  106  produced by pocket-forming for charging or powering remote controlled vehicle  602 . While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments are contemplated. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.