Multi-beam wireless power transmission system

Abstract

To provide a method of securing safety in a multi-beam wireless power transmission system including a beam source and a number of targets.SOLUTION: According to a system for transmitting wireless power to a number of receivers from a number of sources, safety of a multi-beam transmission system is maintained by crossing of two beams in a transmission space, even though a power level or a power density level exceeding a level where a safety mechanism of the system is designed to be operated is likely to be produced. Passages of beams 43, 44 are known from a transmission position and a direction, and a position and an orientation measured by a positioning device on receivers 45, 46. The system attenuates, turns off, or deflects one or more beams to reduce a safety risk when crossing or nearly crossing of the beams is determined; and in addition, confirms whether or not one of the beams is subjected to reflection by searching for a displayed mirror image because it is not able to easily identify a reflection beam passage.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of transmitting beams of energy to remote receivers, and in particular to the field of multi-beam It concerns the safe operation of such systems transmitting beams. [Background technology]

[0002] Prior art on wireless power transmission using collimated electro-optical beams has mostly focused on simple Focus on transmitting a single beam from multiple sources to a single target. There can be many targets in a system, but the system only communicates to a single target at any given time. The signal can be configured to be transmitted to a target at a different time and then transmitted to another target at a different time.

[0003] Patent Document 1 is a patent document that has a common inventor with the present application, and is a "wireless power distribution system." International Patent Application No. PCT / IL2016 / 050927 describes a method for transmitting a signal from one or more transmitters to one or more receivers. The publication describes a power transmission system for a receiver. In the publication, the safety aspects of the system are The issue of safety level of device battery charging is largely limited.

[0004] Therefore, it involves simultaneously propagating multiple beams to multiple target receivers. Considering the safety of the system, it is possible to eliminate at least some of the shortcomings of prior art systems and methods. There is a need for a multi-beam wireless power transmission system that overcomes some of the above problems.

[0005] The most commonly used wireless power transmission systems are based on optical laser transmission, but phase-door The same problem occurs with other forms of wireless transmission, such as ray RF transmission or ultrasound beam transmission.

[0006] The disclosure of each publication referred to in this section and in other sections of this specification is incorporated herein by reference. No. 6,229,693, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2017 / 033192 Summary of the Invention

[0008] The described system uses multiple separated, usually collimated or nearly collimated beams. A beam of light is emitted, usually a single beam, towards one or more separate targets, usually within a receiver. It consists of multiple emitters in a transmission unit, while targeting different targets in the same receiver. The delivered energy is typically summed and sent as a single output to the client device. The target is generally a photovoltaic cell that converts optical power into electrical power. In this case, it is preferable to use the two sources separately, e.g., when a large number of If it is required to control a function or if a different voltage is required, or If one source is used to charge the battery and the other to power the circuit, or to reduce potential safety limitations in any beam, or for any other reason. by.

[0009] The different beams each have a beam steering module that covers the volume to which the beam can be directed. The volume is typically conical or pyramidal. A beam can be used to deliver power to a 3D volume, such as a 3D volume, a 3D volume, or any other diverging 3D volume. The spatial region that is visible, up to the limits of that region, is called the field of view, or FOV.

[0010] The FOV of each beam preferably overlaps with the FOV of the other beam, and the two beams can be used to provide a constant increase in power to eligible receivers. Different FOVs may be used to increase the overall FOV of the system.

[0011] The disclosed system also allows for positioning of two or more transmitters so that their FOVs overlap. Such a configuration has the same advantages and problems as the multi-beam system configuration. do.

[0012] Once the beam is aimed at the target, the power of the beam can be increased if safety measures allow. The receiver can then transmit more than one time signal, thereby delivering a constant increase in power. The target may have a target, which is the area on which the beam is intended to be incident.

[0013] The beam typically originates from a laser or other beam generator source within the transmitter unit. Other types of collimated or nearly collimated beams may also be used. The shape and size of the lens is such that the spot is preferably no larger than the target at the desired range. or to form a large but not too large spot. The transmitted beam power is then , attenuated by controlling the beam source, as well as by controlling the beam source or mechanical Alternatively, it can be turned off by use of an electro-optical shutter.

[0014] The beam is steered by a beam steering element such as a moving or scanning mirror or an acousto-optic reflector. The beam is then directed towards the target using a On its way through space and out of the transmitter, it crosses optical components such as dust-proof windows. It is advantageous to select a wavelength with low attenuation in the The receiver front window may be anti-reflection (AR) coated, but There is no significant reflection from the window. The receiver may be struck from different directions, which may not be operating with the same effect, or the AR controller may be The coating may be damaged or incomplete, or the front This may occur because the surface may be dirty, such as contaminated by dust or splashed liquid. A typically small fraction of the beam is then reflected by the front surface of the receiver into the surroundings, Typically a large portion of the radiation can be absorbed and converted into electrical energy by the receiver.

[0015] The power from multiple absorber targets at the receiver is combined to produce a single electrical output at a single voltage. It is typically a force to be reckoned with.

[0016] A prior art single beam system where all reflections are known and controlled or a prior art fixed system Unlike systems that provide wireless power to mobile phones indoors, When a beam exists and the target moves freely, multiple beams propagate in the same space. There are many additional risks that arise due to the presence of This can present additional challenges in building a system.

[0017] Beam Intersection

[0018] Specifically, new risks arise when multiple beams are freely directed within the same space. One of these new risks is the beam pattern at any point where the propagating beams intersect. Prior art safety systems typically only allow a particular beam to In this case, the danger area is in the form of a beam trajectory line, and When an object such as a human or pet approaches the line, the safety system will activate a safety system to prevent that intrusion. The presence of multiple beams can be a hassle for humans and pets. There are beam crossing points where the risk of beam crossing is generally high. When one or, very rarely, more transmission beams cross each other or are reflected from the receiver, When two (or more) projected beams intersect, or when a reflected beam intersects with a transmitted beam This is the case.

[0019] When two such beams intersect, even if the power lost from each individual beam is small, However, exposure may exceed the values ​​designed for a single system and exceed safety limits. Although it should be, different safety systems may look at different parameters that determine safety. Furthermore, some parameters, such as the beam diameter, vary at different positions in the beam. Since the power loss, power loss per area, and cover fraction of area covered, fraction of power covered, or many other similar parameters For example, the safety limit for each beam can be calculated by dividing E (mW) by the safety of exposure. When at full power, the safety system prevents exposure to E (mW) from the beam. If the beams are designed to be parallel, a person or pet may be Exposure to up to 2E(mW), which exceeds the required safety level.

[0020] The described system is capable of calculating and measuring the transmitted and reflected beams within the system. , the intersection between the beams can be analyzed, so that any subsequent The risk can also be reduced.

[0021] The described system also detects such intersections, estimates the associated risks, and It also gives you a way to take action to avoid it.

[0022] The described system also provides an easy-to-implement method for determining such risk.

[0023] The described system also provides multiple ways to determine the relative positions of different systems.

[0024] The described system includes a beam starting point and a common coordinate system for the relevant components of the system. The beam direction can be determined.

[0025] The disclosed system provides isolation from other beams in the vicinity, i.e., within or near the field of view. The direction of reflection in space can be determined.

[0026] The described system also communicates with nearby or external systems, and and in particular determining the relative position and / or orientation of the beam and comparing the relative position and / or orientation with the other beams. The information can be transmitted to the system or to the external system.

[0027] The receivers in this system are configured to store the orientation, identification ID, and The ID of the transmission beam to be powered can be communicated.

[0028] At least one of the systems will share this information and then power beam and receive the signal. Calculate a "risk map" of potential intersections with reflections and determine whether there are any points of increased risk. If such a danger point is found, and optionally, After estimating the total available power in the or at least one beam is moved or its power is reduced or switched off. It is switched off.

[0029] The location and orientation of these sources, and the continuously variable location and orientation of the receivers, Once the direction of reflections from these is known, the two beams or their reflections intersect. The problem of determining the situation and warning can be addressed. Separate beam sources to a single transmitter Two or more transmit beams from the source are considered, each directed at a different target. The relative geometric positions of the two sources are known from the manufacture of the transmitter unit, and The target's position and orientation are measured using a compass / accelerometer MEMS device as described below. Since the target's electronics module is continuously known from the target's associated electronics module, The 3D coordinate representation of the beam line is also known. It is based on 3D Euclidean geometry, which is well known in the industry. By using widely available geometric algorithms, the two transmit beams are aligned with the target. may or may not intersect at a predetermined point along the trajectory to the target, or may have a skewed trajectory, and thus It can be reliably determined whether or not a line crosses.

[0030] An alternative way to determine whether an intersection occurs is to determine if two lines intersect and then form a common plane. Conversely, two lines must exist in a common plane. If it can be determined that the incident rays are not simultaneous or parallel, the crossing The novel method of this disclosure uses the following algorithm to calculate the two beams: Determine whether a set of planes has an intersection, or at least approaches an intersection. The beam is incrementally rotated around its orbit, and thus the common rotation of the incrementally rotated plane. The second beam is then positioned at a predetermined minimum distance from the first beam. It is determined whether the distance passes through any of these incrementally rotated planes. If these beams cross, they are considered to have a crossing or near-crossing point and are subject to laser safety regulations. For example, shutting down the laser power of at least one of the beams to ensure the reliability of the laser beam. or reducing the risk by deflecting one of the beams Appropriate action must be taken to

[0031] In practice, the method involves forming a first beam and at least one point on the second beam. This can be done by calculating the plane where the beam originates. This point is typically These points are likely targets because they are the most well-known and easiest to calculate. And if another point on the second beam is closer to the axis of the first beam, typically a few millimeters If the distance is within a few radii of the beam, the possibility of an intersection is high, and as mentioned above, such an intersection Further action may be required to mitigate the risk of If the closest point is far away, typically more than a few millimeters, the calculation error margin Above this distance, or beyond a few radii of the beam, the potential for initial risk is low.

[0032] The advantage of this method is that both beams can be focused in front of the receiver with more than one target. When a beam is reflected by a single flat surface, such as a In such cases, it is necessary to determine the orientation of the receiver and the direction of the reflection. There is no need to calculate the direction of reflection from one beam and the direction of reflection from the other beam. The intersection with the reflection is also negligible, and even if a beam penetration occurs, the transmitted beam is not transmitted from the first side. One side is exposed to the beam and the other side is exposed to the reflected beam, so the effect of the beams is not cumulative. That's why.

[0033] This procedure is computationally faster than the calculation of the reflection direction involved in determining the relative receiver direction. This allows us to estimate the safety for multiple targets and all receivers with a single flat entrance window. is obtained.

[0034] If the two beams diverge from these sources, the initial risk potential is also low. It is considered an early risk potential and does not trigger a safety warning event. If the beams are coplanar and the power and direction of the beam are at least equal, the system or other beam parameters (e.g., duty cycle) or two separate Combine data from multiple safety systems and take action in indicated crossover events Either that or they will implement strict standards to ensure compliance.

[0035] This quick evaluation procedure ensures that the two beams substantially intersect each other (which means that both Attenuation, off or shift of the beam relative to the can respond by

[0036] The alternatives of attenuating, turning off or shifting the beam incorporate risk estimates from both safety systems. By combining these two safety systems, the system can be made more sensitive, thereby maintaining the safety of the system. is.

[0037] If the beams are not coplanar or convergent, the receiver orientation is determined and the receiver The position of the receiver is determined and the reflection of the beam from the front surface is calculated. Actions to reduce risk if reflections cross or pass near other beams is taken.

[0038] Such actions may involve combining data from both safety systems and This can lead to an estimation of the combined risk from the beam. This results in a high sensitivity threshold for turning off the

[0039] Alternatively, at least one of the beams is power reduced or position shifted.

[0040] In many situations, when a system has more than two beams, the desired Preferably, two beams of different sets are used to perform the analysis.

[0041] Beam trajectory definition

[0042] Each target and each beam has an identity, or ID, which allows other components in the system to The components can detect this ID, so the system can identify the source and The receiver's ID code can be identified by the transmitter. This is usually done by sending a code to the transmitter, but beam reflection detection Pattern identification, such as the patterns described below in relation to the output, or barcodes may also be considered IDs. It can be used as such.

[0043] The system uses this data to determine the starting point and the target where the beam can be reflected. Each beam starts from a transmitter and aims at a receiver, which determines the There may be a certain power reflection depending on the structure and orientation.

[0044] The system determines a reflective characteristic of the beam based at least in part on the identity of the receiver. This property determines how much is reflected, at what angle to the beam, and how The degree of divergence and other properties characterize not only the transmitted beam but also the reflected beam. It can be done.

[0045] For the positions, IDs, and relative orientations of at least some of the beam emitters and receivers There should be at least one detection system for the receiver and transmitter. The device may also include an orientation detector including an accelerometer to indicate direction of use and / or a compass to indicate magnetic north. Alternative implementations include (a) mechanical connection to a device with a known location; (b) a (c) a camera that determines the orientation, direction, or distance of one component to another; the distance and orientation determined by analyzing the reflection from the diffraction grating of the component; (d) determining the relative position of components based on analyzing the position of surrounding objects; (e) the use of GPS; (f) location and RF or sound reflections from components that can be used to determine orientation; and (g) It involves determining the position of the receiver by triangulation from at least two beam sources.

[0046] A beam module calculates a vector from itself to a known receiver and then By subtracting the vector from the other beam module to the receiver, the other beam module The relative position of the other beam module can be detected. If different targets are being powered at known distances, the vectors are added to the calculation. Such a situation may arise, for example, when more than one time is required to facilitate an increased FOV or increased power. This can occur when a target is attached to a receiver.

[0047] The beam module receives the position from a second system that already has the position. The relative position of the other beam modules can also be detected by

[0048] Another method of fixing the position of one laser system relative to another is to use a rigid mechanical holder. The two systems are mechanically connected using a Such a mechanical connection is made between two or more beam modules. When the laser beam is transmitted between the modules, the system The system can calculate the trajectories of the beams to prevent them from crossing each other. can.

[0049] Similarly, methods for fixing the position of one target relative to another include rigid mechanical holders. The two targets are mechanically connected using a When such a mechanical connection is made between two or more targets, If the relative orientation of the surfaces causing the reflection is known, and the If the direction is known, the direction of the reflection can be predicted to determine whether such reflection is related to other reflected or transmitted beams. It is possible to respond when the robot crosses the boundary of a room.

[0050] Alternatively, a flexible receiver having more than one target may be used to measure the relative positions between the targets. The device may have sensors that allow the location of the device to be determined and transmitted.

[0051] One method for determining the reflecting surfaces of different targets is to use a common reflector, typically a monolithic The main feature is that it has a transparent front window.

[0052] Control Unit

[0053] The control unit may be configured to pass either beam from an intermediate surface or in close proximity to each other. Two beams, or a transmitted beam and a reflected beam passing close to each other, or Responds to closely passing reflected and transmitted beams and takes action to eliminate the problem Such action may include a power reduction of one or more of the transmitted beams. or turning off the beams completely, directing one or more of the beams in a different direction, by reducing the radiance of one or more of the beams, or by sounding an alarm signal, for example. This may include having the user take an action.

[0054] Alternatively, the control unit may take other actions, such as turning off or deflecting the beam. Combinations from different beams can be detected by tightening the threshold for safety action. The safety system may be operated in a manner that takes into account the likelihood of the risk being posed. For example: If the two beams do not intersect, the safety system will detect that 5% of the beams are blocked. On the other hand, if the beams cross, the safety threshold is 2 It can be changed by up to 0.5%.

[0055] There must be a communication channel that gets the relevant data to the point where the decision is made. At least one of the following is received: data on the starting point position, the target, and the receiver orientation. There must be another control point in the system, the transmit beam and, if possible, The direction of at least some of the reflected beams is calculated, and if a problem is detected, a response is made. The decision made is used to take action to resolve the problem. , may be distributed among several systems and among multiple locations within a system. The control points are the subsystems used in the power transmission equipment, both beam systems, and and in data communication with at least some of the receivers.

[0056] reflective surface

[0057] Another hazard that may exist in any beam delivery system is the unintended placement of a beam in one of the beam paths. The presence of unintentional intervening reflective surfaces is a major factor in determining whether reflections from such unintentional intervening reflective surfaces are present. This may not be taken into account by the safety system installed and may pose a risk to the user. To overcome this problem, the system detects such reflective surfaces in the beam path. and can turn off the beam, reduce its power, or change its direction. Alternatively or additionally, the system may be adapted to Ensure that the altered trajectory of the reflected beam is protected by an increased safety system standard. Safety systems can also be configured to impose strict safety standards to ensure safety. , warns and then takes action if a reflection from the receiver's front surface is detected It is also possible.

[0058] The presence of a reflection at a mirror somewhere along the trajectory of one of the beams indicates that the beam This is easily confirmed by inspection of the image of the target viewed along the same trajectory along which the beam was aimed. The image of the target can be advantageously captured by the target to provide the image. low power beam sources such as scanning devices that can scan the If the target is a 2D barcode, Asymmetric patterns whose shape is known or whose shape can be verified algorithmically, such as in The pattern is attached to at least one mirror or by an appropriate rotation operation. itself, and preferably any rotation and translation operations and Asymmetric or symmetric patterns with symmetry of the type involving an odd number of mirror operations It will be one of the two.

[0059] The scanned image of the object, or the received beam shape, may not reflect the shape or transmission of the object itself. If the transmitted beam shape exhibits the same symmetry as the shape of each beam, mirror reflections will occur along the trajectory. This is a conditional statement. An even number of mirrors can result in false shadows. While the detection of a marker may produce a false positive result, noise in the measurement channel may produce a false positive result. On the other hand, if the scanned image shows a symmetry opposite to that of the object, this is because the image path is mirrored. The receiver detects the beam reflected within the detector, thus indicating that the transmitted beam has experienced the same reflection. Detect the shape of the object and determine if it is a mirror image or not, or some other unit that determines it. Send relevant information about the

[0060] Such patterns may consist of shapes, dots, or distinct components. The distinction between these positions, relative positions, and responses (e.g., reflexes, colored reflexes, colored reflexes) , electronic response, blinking, RF transmission, movement, vibration, reflective properties, fluorescence, or detectable externally to the receiver Any other response is made via the

[0061] As an alternative to asymmetric patterns, barcodes or 2D barcodes can be used to determine right- or left-handedness. If the track is not mirror-reflected, the barcode will not On the other hand, if the trajectory is reflected, the barcode will be read as When an unusual code is read, the presence of a mirror reflection can be easily determined.

[0062] As an alternative to optical scanning of the image of an asymmetric object on a target, pure symmetry of the image can be obtained. This method uses a series of symmetry targets. The targets are labeled with a sign code corresponding to their relative position, which is The beam can be transmitted from one target to the adjacent The direction sensing detector circuitry detects the direction in which the signal from the image is being read. This is determined by electronic reading of the code. A new target detected at the same time will have a symmetry reversal as a result of the direct path in the same direction. or the absence of symmetry reversal as a result of mirror reflection in the opposite direction. This is achieved by noting whether the display is read or not.

[0063] For example, a partially symmetric light pattern in one direction and partially symmetric in the other direction. Systems that combine both optical and electronic methods, such as electronic patterns, are also implemented. It is possible.

[0064] Electronic transmission may be achieved by other means of data communication such as infrared, ultrasonic or optical signals. It can also be replaced by

[0065] Combining power output from multiple photovoltaic cells

[0066] At the receiver, two or more targets absorb the power of two or more incident beams to produce a power When used to convert power from different photovoltaic (PV) circuits into a single power source, There are various ways to achieve this coupling.

[0067] The voltage from a single PV cell exceeds the minimum safe level at which the system limits its power output. Typically, a system is required to perform some safety function that is essential to increasing It is not high enough for electronic circuitry to function.

[0068] Therefore, combining the voltages from a number of cells connected in series is typically done electronically. This is the choice in many prior art systems for generating the high voltages required by the circuit. are.

[0069] The voltage from the cell or cells is kept at a level where most electronic circuits can operate. Typically, most silicon-based The electronics operate above 1.2V, with options at 1.8V and 3.3V. ), and 5V. Some circuits operate at low voltages, but below 1V. It is difficult to design a circuit that operates at less than 0.8V. It is extremely difficult to achieve this. Cells used for wireless power transmission using infrared light are Typically, they produce less than 0.5V per junction, and only a single junction is used per cell. It is typically used

[0070] In the system described herein, there may be more than one PV cell per receiver, and different The power output from the cells is combined and fed to a DC / DC converter, which adjusts the voltage to 1V. Exceeds the level.

[0071] When the outputs from multiple PV cells are connected in series, the DC / DC circuit The best performance is achieved when the cells are connected in series at a voltage close to the sum of their voltages. , the power is only transferred to the high voltage when all PV cells are producing at least a certain current. The current flowing through all the cells must be equal. In some cases, this limit is extended until all cells are irradiated. Prevents auxiliary electronic subsystems in the receiving device from turning on. for various critical tasks such as identifying the charge beam and transmitting safety data to the transmitter. In such cases, the direction of reflection from the first beam is unknown, so the first Reflections from one beam may intersect with a second beam, creating a danger spot. Here, the safety limit needs to be strict, typically by a factor of two if both beams are equal.

[0072] This disclosure provides six possible solutions to avoid such problems, listed below depending on the implementation: Posted.

[0073] (a) After the first beam is locked onto the target, the time it takes for a response to be received from the receiver maintain the power of the transmitted beam below 50% of the safety threshold. Increase the sensitivity of the system, or for example, turn on beam 1 for a short time to focus on the target. lock on to target, turn off, then turn on beam 2, lock on target, turn off and then restart again until both beams are locked onto the target. This can be achieved either by separating the beams in time or by separating the beams in time.

[0074] (b) The auxiliary system, even if only one beam illuminates one PV cell. The receiver shall be provided with a second power supply capable of permitting operation of the All PV cells can be charged again when illuminated.

[0075] (c) Allowing DC / DC circuits to operate in both series and single PV modes and be configured to respond even when only a single PV cell is illuminated.

[0076] (d) Connect the cells in parallel before irradiating the cells, and then, once irradiation is detected, Connect the cable.

[0077] (e) Connect each cell separately to a different DC / DC converter and connect the outputs in parallel or series. To do so.

[0078] (f) Connecting cells in parallel.

[0079] The power output from multiple PV cells can be connected in parallel. This typically requires: It is required to design DC / DC circuits for low operating voltage and high current. It offers either efficiency or high cost, but operates in both modes without an additional power supply. Without a DC / DC circuit that can operate, even when only a single cell is illuminated, There is an additional advantage in being able to operate the circuit.

[0080] If more than one PV cell is present, the system will still be illuminated with only a single PV cell. PV cells can be connected in series or parallel as long as they maintain the ability to respond when This means that each PV cell can be operated in combination with the illumination of at least a second cell. By connecting directly to a DC / DC circuit before irradiation or before the second cell is irradiated. This can be done by using other energy sources for safety functions.

[0081] Utilizing the power output of photovoltaic cells

[0082] Typically, the receiver output is maintained at 3.3V or less, with a narrow margin from the nominal voltage. The input voltage should be a constant regulated voltage such as 5V. The energy level is controlled by the transmitter, but is affected by many other factors. Many of these are beyond the control of the system, such as the effect of a person walking around with the receiver. Therefore, it is possible to deliver the exact amount of energy required by the client load. It is difficult to do this. Often, excess energy is generated, and this excess energy is If the voltage is fixed, it will be converted into an excessive current at the converter output, and if the voltage is not fixed, This excess current is converted into a voltage increase that can be harmful to the client load. It is not possible to force the supply to the client load without It needs to be stored or converted into a form of energy.

[0083] The present disclosure provides several methods for storing or converting excess current into different forms of energy. Suggest a method.

[0084] First, the excess energy can be stored in capacitors and / or coils.

[0085] If a battery is present, the excess energy can be fed into the battery and stored there. .

[0086] The excess energy is also transmitted from the receiver in the form of radio, light, or infrared energy. It may also be propagated by

[0087] Finally, this energy is converted into heat, typically using a resistor or Zener diode. It can be converted.

[0088] A Zener diode is advantageous because it helps maintain a constant voltage at the output. Typically, Zener diodes are designed to conduct at a voltage slightly higher than the desired output voltage. The selected voltage has the advantages of fast response and low cost.

[0089] Another method of converting excess energy into heat is to charge a photovoltaic cell to its maximum power point (MPP) voltage. The efficiency of power transfer from a PV cell is improved by operating it at a voltage different from the incident voltage. The beam irradiation level depends on both the beam power and the electrical characteristics of the client load. Since the load characteristics that give the best power transfer efficiency are variable, the efficiency of the system is , is optimized when the load characteristics are such that power transfer is maintained at its highest efficiency. This is called the MPP and is the maximum power that can be presented to the PV cell to obtain the most useful power output. A MPPT circuit is used to intentionally shift the operating point from the MPP. By using it, you can reduce the photovoltaic efficiency and turn on the correct power at the correct voltage. Delivery to the target is achieved under conditions where there is excess energy to be discarded. obtain.

[0090] Intrasystem and intrasystem communications

[0091] Beams generated by different transmitters that share at least a portion of the same field of view To prevent this, data is transferred between systems to signal the volumes occupied by different beams. Each system must be able to see that its field of view can be occupied by the laser beam. Typically, the system must be able to transmit at least one indication signaling Number of beams, wavelength, power, origin in 3D space, direction in 3D space, beam diameter or equivalent, detection capability, coherence length data, timing and duty of beam data Cycles, future trends in beam data, and manufacturer codes and network parameters The user then transmits a set of data including:

[0092] Each system must be able to respond to at least a subset of that data. This data can be transmitted between systems, peer to peer, or to a common server. It can be received from other peers or from a central server. Typically, data received and sent The data is similar, and the beam is now directed at a laser, such as a cylinder that transmits power. This can be interpreted by the system as a direction to avoid. have a different field of view when the field of view or part of it is covered by another beam So, for example, powering a target that is already powered by another beam. It is managed like an order to avoid.

[0093] The beam module can be connected to its vicinity by the above communication channel or an additional separate channel. The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting other beam modules. , making it possible to detect the presence of other beam modules that cover the same field of view or a part of it. We propose four ways to make it possible.

[0094] (a) In the first system, a receiver in optical communication with more than one beam may Identification detects the presence of a receiver within the field of view of more than one beam. The receiver then transmits a signal indicating that other receivers are nearby, and this signal received by at least one of the system modules or by an external control unit will be done.

[0095] (b) In the second system, each beam module scans the field of view with its laser, for example. By switching, other systems can transmit signals that are received by other systems, and the signals are then transmitted to other beam modules. This signal is received by the module and interpreted as an indication that another system is nearby.

[0096] (c) In a third system, the user himself / herself may share the same view with more than one system. Indicates the existence of other systems that

[0097] (d) In the fourth system, the manufacturer mechanically connects several beam modules. They are packaged together, for example by connecting them together, and the systems are configured to recognize each other.

[0098] Communication may occur directly between systems or over a network or server connection. can be done.

[0099] That is, according to an exemplary implementation of the device described in this disclosure, a beam source and a number of A method for ensuring safety in a multi-beam wireless power transmission system including a target is provided, This method is (a) Any point on the orbit of at least two beams is closer to each other than a predetermined safety distance. determining whether or not the target is approaching, and if so, (i) attenuating at least one beam; (ii) turning off at least one beam; and (iii) at least and deflecting at least one of the beams; or transmitting data associated with the decision to a controller, Based on the analysis of the data, the controller (i) attenuates at least one beam. (ii) turning off at least one beam; and (iii) at least deflecting one beam; (b) receiving image data of a pattern on a target in the power transmission system; This allows the system to detect whether a reflective surface exists in the path of any of the beams, and extracts the image data from the image data. The image generated from the target is compared with the image data of the pattern on the target to obtain a mirror image. If so, at least the image data of the pattern is in the form of a mirror image. (i) attenuating or (ii) turning off a beam directed at a target having a and (iii) deflecting, or transmitting data associated with the decision to a controller, Based on the analysis of the data, the controller determines that the image data of the pattern is a mirror image. (i) attenuating and (ii) turning off a beam directed at a target having a shape and (iii) deflecting the Tep and Includes.

[0100] In the above method, image data is obtained by scanning a target with a beam. Therefore, the image data may be electronic image data obtained by transmitting the image data from the target. By collecting electronic data recorded on the do.

[0101] The method further comprises: if either the determination in step (a) or step (b) is positive, issuing an alert to the

[0102] Additionally, in any of the above methods, at least one of the beams is a beam saw. It may be a transmitted beam from a source or a reflected beam from a target.

[0103] According to yet a further implementation of the method, attenuating the beam comprises attenuating a beam source. Turning off a beam may be done by adjusting the or by use of a shutter, deflecting at least one beam. This may be done through the use of a beam scanning device.

[0104] Furthermore, the trajectory of the beam transmitted by the beam source is calculated based on the known position of the beam source. and known beam scanner devices used to direct the beam in space. In the case of a reflected beam, its position and orientation may be determined by using the - Ascertaining the trajectory of the transmitted beam striking the target and the position and orientation of the target. In this case, the position and orientation of the target can be determined by By using an accelerometer and compass mounted at a known position relative to the Alternatively, the position and orientation of the target may be determined by a sensor mechanically connected to the target. The target image may be received from a device that has been installed, or alternatively, may be received from an image of the target or a pattern on the target. This may be calculated by analyzing the

[0105] In any of the foregoing methods, any point on the trajectory of at least two beams is Determining whether the objects are closer to each other than a certain safe distance is (i) determining the position and orientation of a first beam and a second beam; (ii) calculating at least one plane that includes the first beam, the plane being each including a trajectory of a first beam; (iii) determining at least one point where the second beam intersects the at least one plane; To do, (iv) measuring a distance between each of the at least one points from the trajectory of the first beam; Toto may include:

[0106] According to yet a further implementation of the above-described method, any one of the at least two beams on the orbit If any of the points are closer to each other than a predetermined safe distance, the analysis further Whether the predicted combined power level of at least two beams is greater than a predetermined safety level This includes determining:

[0107] Any point on the orbit of at least two beams is closer to each other than a predetermined safety distance. The analysis of the data obtained from the step of determining whether the beam is being split into two or more beams may further include: The associated overall risk is calculated by dividing the crossing probability of the beam and the combined power level of the beam. and the probability that the risk exceeds a predetermined safety level. .

[0108] Finally, in any of the above methods, at least some of the targets may be mobile. It may be attached to a telephone device.

[0109] According to another implementation described in the present disclosure, there is further provided a wireless power supply, a system for transmitting to multiple targets adapted to receive a signal, the system comprising: (i) at least two beam sources, each generating a beam of wireless power; (ii) a beam scanning device associated with each beam source, a beam scanning device adapted to direct the transmitted beam directly onto the target; , (iii) an image of the pattern on any of the targets located on the transmission system; an imaging unit adapted to generate data; (iv) Controller and Including, The controller (a) Any point on the orbit of at least two beams is closer to each other than a predetermined safety distance. determining whether or not the target is approaching, and if so, (i) attenuating at least one beam; (ii) turning off at least one beam; and (iii) at least and causing the system to perform at least one of: deflecting one or more beams. configuring said controller; (b) receiving image data of the pattern in the transmission system; Detect whether a reflective surface exists in any path of the beam and generate a The image thus obtained has a mirror image form compared to the image data of the pattern on the target. determining whether or not the beam is present, and if so, (i) attenuating the beam to at least one; (ii) turning off at least one beam, and (iii) turning off at least one beam. and causing the controller to cause the system to perform at least one of: Steps to configure the It is configured to perform the following.

[0110] In such a system, the relative geometric positions of at least two beam sources are already known. It is knowledge.

[0111] In the above system, this knowledge is obtained by virtue of the mechanical connection between them, or (a) the relative vector positions of at least two targets; (b) a second beam source receiving a beam from a first beam source of the at least two beam sources; the vector position of one target relative to the first beam source; (c) a second beam source receiving a beam from a second beam source of the at least two beam sources; 2. The vector position of the target relative to the second beam source and In this case, the small amount of The relative positions of at least two targets are determined by the single receiver. It becomes known thanks to its incorporation into [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0112] The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

[0113] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a multi-beam transmitter emitting three separate beams towards a pair of receivers. [Figure 2] A typical multi-beam transmitter and a single-beam transmitter are shown. [Figure 3] 1 shows a typical receiver having two targets receiving at least two beams. [Figure 4] The creation of beam crossing points and the resulting dangers in a multi-beam transmission system such as that shown in FIG. 2 are illustrated. [Figure 5] 1 shows a flowchart of a method for managing multi-beam transmissions in accordance with the present method to ensure proper control of beam crossings. [Figure 6] 10 shows how the system determines whether any mirror surfaces are located in the path of any beam from the transmitter to the target. [Figure 7] 1 shows a schematic representation of a purely electronic method for determining the symmetry of an image target mark. [Figure 8] 10 shows a schematic diagram of how the relative positions of two beam sources and their targets can be determined by vector subtraction of the known positions of the beam sources relative to the targets at the receiver. [Figure 9] 1 shows a flowchart of a method for determining whether two beams intersect or at least pass within a predetermined minimum distance of each other. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0114] Referring now to Figure 1, a multi-beam transmitter 1 is shown schematically. It consists of three separate beams 2, 3, 4 are emitted towards receivers 6 and 7, and the The control system incorporates a controller 12 that controls the relevant operations of the system. Although shown mounted on the transmitter unit, As stated above, across several systems and locations, wherever located, or nearby. It may be distributed.

[0115] The receiver 6 includes a single target 5 at which the beam 2 is directed. The client device receives the power from the transmitter 6 through a power connector 10 which may be integrated into the receiver. The power is converted into a stable voltage that is supplied to a device (such as a telephone, not shown in the drawing).

[0116] Both beams 3 and 4 are used to deliver power to multiple target receivers 7. Beam 3 is directed towards target 8 and beam 4 is directed towards target 9. Receiver 7 converting the optical power from both beams 3 and 4 into electrical power and summing the power from both beams; The power is delivered to the device to be charged.

[0117] Receiver 6 transmits data in response to detecting beam 2. Receiver 7 receives data from beam 3. and / or beam 4 and transmits data in response to the detection of either beam 5.

[0118] The method of data transmission is not specified, but is typically via RF, IR, or over the Internet. This is accomplished through a port connection and is received by the transmitter for data analysis purposes.

[0119] The transmission typically includes the receiver ID, the ID of the beam or beams, the received power, the total and each Includes per beam or not, and orientation information, but other data or only a portion of that data It may also include minutes.

[0120] Beams 2, 3 and 4 are not shown intersecting each other, but are in the same plane. The reflections from these receivers also do not intersect with each other and do not interact with the incident beam. None.

[0121] Referring now to Figure 2, a multi-beam transmitter 21 and a single-beam transmitter 22 are shown. The beam transmitter 21 includes a first beam module consisting of a laser 23 and a steering mirror SM1. and has a field of view limited by the maximum ability of steering mirror SM1 to tilt the beam. The field of view FOV1 is a line passing through the steering mirror SM1 and point p4 in one range of the field of view. and in the other range of the field of view extends to a line passing through the steering mirror SM1 and the point p1. It should be understood that this description provides a two-dimensional description due to the nature of the two-dimensional drawings. However, the actual field of view is typically a 3D rotation of such a 2D representation.

[0122] Transmitter 21 also includes a second beam module consisting of laser 26 and steering mirror SM2. and has a field of view limited by the maximum ability of steering mirror SM2 to tilt the beam. The field of view FOV2 extends at one end to a line passing through steering mirror SM2 and point p5, It should be understood that such a description is two-dimensional due to the nature of this 2D drawing, but the actual view is a 3D representation of such a 2D representation. Typically this is rotation.

[0123] Transmitter 22 also includes a third beam module consisting of laser 28 and steering mirror SM3. and has a field of view limited by the maximum ability of steering mirror SM3 to tilt the beam. The field of view FOV3 extends at one end to a line passing through steering mirror SM3 and point p6, It should be understood that this statement extends to a line passing through the steering mirror SM3 and the point p3. Although this 2D drawing is two-dimensional in nature, the actual view is a 3D representation of such a 2D representation. This is typically the case.

[0124] Receiver 24 is located inside FOV1 and FOV2 and outside FOV3.

[0125] Receiver 25 is located inside FOV3 and FOV2 and outside FOV1.

[0126] Thus, receiver 24 is powered either using laser 23 or using laser 26. It is possible.

[0127] Thus, receiver 25 is powered either using laser 26 or using laser 28. It is possible.

[0128] The receivers 24 and 25 determine which beams, if any, are fed to the receivers 24 and 25. The beam is then sent to the receiver, where it is typically decoded to determine whether it is being transmitted or not, typically by decoding information encoded on the beam itself. Each receiver measures the received power of the beam it is feeding, and determines the receiver ID, Transmits transmitter orientation, detected beam ID, received power per beam, capabilities, and other data. These data are transmitted by both transmitter 21 and transmitter 22, and possibly The signal is received by other receivers and system components.

[0129] The transmitter 21 knows the relative starting point and direction of the lasers 23 and 26. The spatial position and orientation of the steering mirror is known, as is the position of the receiver, and therefore The transmitter 21 can direct the beams to avoid crossing each other. When the laser beams are in the same plane and converge, the transmitter 21 detects the intersection point (if any). If there is a crossing, both beams are calculated to determine whether an overall risk exists. Estimate the risk from

[0130] When the transmitter 21 receives data from the receivers 24 and 25, it sends back the model ID and slope ( Each receiver is calculated based on its vertical and magnetic north (usually calculated relative to gravity vertical and magnetic north) and the range of each receiver. Calculate the direction of reflections from the detector and evaluate where potential intersections, if any, are located. cormorant.

[0131] Since receiver 25 is in the field of view of both transmitters 21 and 22, the beams sent by each transmitter The transmitter that did not send the beam receives the report transmission and It begins a procedure to locate and communicate with other transmitters that share the same field of view.

[0132] After establishing a communication channel between both transmitters 21 and 22, the direction and reflection of the beam are Information is exchanged. Referring now to FIG. 3, a typical receiver 31 having two targets 32 and 34 is shown. This receives at least two beams 33 and 35 and The power is converted into electricity and provided to a system that utilizes the electricity through conductors 36. Provide.

[0133] Beams 33 and 35 are nearly perfected by receiver 31 at both targets 32 and 34. It has a size and shape that allows it to be fully absorbed.

[0134] A beam 33 is directed at the target 32 ​​and is completely surrounded by the boundary of the target 32. while the beam 35 directed at the target 34 diverges slightly from the target 34. By using the scanning capability of the beam source to image the target at low power, This ensures that beams such as beam 35 are centered on the target. The beam source then increases its power output to the power required to deliver power to the target. This will allow you to add more. Receiver 31 receives a small fraction of either beam 33 or 35, typically 0.1% to 4% However, in some cases, they have a front surface that can cause reflections of up to 25%. The degree of reflection may depend on the contamination of the surface and the angle of incidence. The receiver 31 includes a camera, a compass, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a compass, a GPS device, electronic connection to a device capable of determining relative orientation, triangulation device, or The detector is equipped with a detector for detecting the spatial orientation and a data transmitter for communicating the information to the transmitter. By using an accelerometer as a gravity direction detector together with a compass, A general and inexpensive detection system can be easily achieved. Such a device is The transmitter source also converts the receiver coordinate system into a A similar component is provided so that it can be directly related to the coordinate system of the source in question. It needs to be done.

[0135] Triangulation by measuring distance or echo (sound, light, radio waves) from other devices The device may be located at either the transmitter or the receiver.

[0136] Beam 35 is shown slightly off target, but this is typically If the transmitter 36 displays a "Not Over Target" message or a low received power measurement, Report either one.

[0137] Referring now to FIG. 4, the beam splitting in a multi-beam transmission system such as that shown in FIG. The occurrence of intersections and the resulting dangers are shown.

[0138] In such a typical system, the transmitter or beamforming modules 41 and 42 include: Beams 43 and 44 are transmitted to receivers 45 and 46, respectively. A portion of the beam 43 is reflected from the front surface of the receiver 45 as reflection 40. A portion is reflected as reflection 39 out of the surface of receiver 46 . Beam 44 intersects with beam 43 at point 47 .

[0139] Reflection 40 intersects reflection 39 at point 49 .

[0140] Beam 43 intersects reflection 40 at point 48 .

[0141] It should be understood that the image in Figure 4 is a 2D image and is used to illustrate a 3D situation. However, differences between this and 3D reality are to be expected.

[0142] It is also important to understand that beams and reflections in the real 3D world have widths, and beams are close to each other, typically within 1-10 mm, and sometimes as close as 50 mm. Any situation can have a similar outcome.

[0143] If the person or object at points 47, 48, and 49 has a diameter of 1 mm, 3.5 mm, 7 mm, or 50 m radiance, power, energy, and average energy levels over a circular area of ​​10 mm or 10 mm Hot spots, i.e., coherent or incoherent effects, can be present. Any hot spots created as a result of the effects that exceed the acceptable level are considered to be system-derived. Other common risks include skin burns, which can arise from various aspects of exposure. The risk of eye damage arises from "hot spots" - that is, eye damage occurs on average over the pupil area. The fire hazard from small particles from "hot spots" and large particles The fire hazard from the child depends on the total absorbed energy, and the system is viewed through a telescope. The risk to a person can be measured by averaging the power over the telescope lens (50 mm) The system must assess a variety of risks.

[0144] To prevent such exposure above acceptable levels at such dangerous intersections, The system may involve modifying a parameter of one or both beams, such as power or direction, or The process involves either terminating one beam and replacing it, typically with another beam.

[0145] Coherence between beams, mechanical instabilities, optical and pointing instabilities, directional uncertainty, Effects such as noise in the system can limit the distance between beams / reflections that is considered dangerous. It can be significantly increased.

[0146] Points 47, 48, and 49 are considered "danger points" and require special attention in the safety system. Specifically, the safety system must consider other beams in the vicinity of the other parts of the beam. At such a "danger point," the safety system must collect parameters from both beams. It is necessary to consider or avoid such situations.

[0147] Referring now to FIG. 5, a multi-beam hologram according to the present method ensuring proper control of beam intersections is shown. A flow chart of a method for managing a system transmission is shown. During the transmission, the following methods are performed consecutively: will be done.

[0148] In step 51, the system determines whether any beam along its path strikes a mirror. If the beam is found to be transmitted through the mirror, In step 52 the beam is attenuated or typically turned off.

[0149] If the beam transmitted through the mirror is not found, the system assumes that the beams are in the same plane. (53) Check whether beams exist in the same plane. , it is checked in step 54 whether it is diverging or converging. and 53 may be performed in any order. For non-converging coplanar beams, The range and direction of the ray vector are determined in steps 55 and 56 (again in order is not important), then in step 57, any two or more reflections in the same plane are If none are found, then in step 58, It is estimated whether the morphism is in the same plane as the beam. If none is found, the system The transmission continues, typically in step 60, with some or all of these actions Do this repeatedly.

[0150] If, in step 54, multiple beams are found to be convergent and coplanar, If so, in step 59, the data from the two associated safety systems is combined to generate two This will result in a unified risk assessment for the system, thereby raising the safety threshold. At least one beam is attenuated or deflected.

[0151] Similarly, without determining the possibility of intersection in either step 57 or 58, If the beam / reflection is found to be exactly coplanar, the method also returns to step 59. , where the same action occurs.

[0152] Referring now to Figure 6, if there is any beam in the path from the transmitter to the target, It is shown how the system determines whether any mirror surface is positioned. On the receiver 61 there is an asymmetric pattern 62. When viewed, receiver 61 appears as an image 65 having an asymmetric pattern 66. Since pattern 66 differs from pattern 62 in all types of rotation, the system is seen through the mirror and responds by turning off the beam.

[0153] An image 63 with an asymmetric pattern 64 is the pattern 62 as seen by the receiver 61 . By rotating the pattern 64, it can be overlapped with the pattern 62. 64 is not being seen or scanned through the mirror. It's obvious.

[0154] On the other hand, the pattern 68 on the image 67 of the receiver 61 is a pattern 62 known to the transmitter. That is, the system must ensure that the pattern 68 is reflected by the mirror. It can be inferred that the information is being viewed or scanned.

[0155] If the system detects a receiver and determines that the receiver is being viewed through a mirror , refrain from transmitting power to the receiver through the mirror. This allows the user to scan the same position again, recording the position for future use. This may include refraining from or reducing the frequency of such scans. Calculating the mirror position requires detecting the actual object and its "mirror image", but the following countermeasures are required: This can be done by solving the equation:

[0156] V1=V2+V3 V4=V2-V2*|V3| / |V2| |V2|+|V3|=|V1| |V1|=|V4| where V1 is the vector to the real object, V4 is the vector from the beam source to the "mirror image" |Vn| is the length of the vector |Vn|, V2 is the vector to the point on the mirror where the beam strikes the mirror, V3 is the vector from that point to the mirror image of the receiver.

[0157] There can be many variations on this scheme of vector computation.

[0158] The mirror is found at V2, and its direction is given by dividing the angle between V2 and V3: can be found.

[0159] The mirror position is also used to simplify the actual receiver position instead of the mirror image. other "mirror images" of the receiver may appear as if they were reflected by the same mirror. If the receiver is found at a point where the mirror is located, the actual position of the receiver as seen through the mirror will be determined by the It can be estimated to help

[0160] The asymmetric image preferably allows identification of the receiver, its type, manufacturer, capabilities and limitations. This data can then be further used for other purposes such as billing, It can be used for quality of service purposes, and many other uses.

[0161] Referring now to FIG. 7, a purely electronic method for determining the symmetry of an image target marking is is shown schematically.

[0162] PV1, PV2, PV3...PV6 are equally spaced and aligned with the edges of a degenerate hexagon. All beam targets are

[0163] Such a pattern is a mirror image of an original pattern whose mirror image is optically identical to the original pattern but whose rotation is different from that of the original pattern. It appears as a rotation and is therefore optically symmetric.

[0164] However, receivers that may respond differently to illumination of different parts of the pattern In the context of a weapon, such patterns can be asymmetric. Because it can be identified.

[0165] For example, if the beam is directed at a target PV3 (opposite the mirror image of PV3, which may be PV4), The system needs to have this information if the beam is directed at a mirror reflection. The beam is then rotated clockwise or counterclockwise one or more times to verify that the beam is not affected by the The beam is directed clockwise to the target located at the target step. Advance and aim at one or more target steps, and target shape (opposite PV2) If you reach PV4, this is not visible through the mirror. If so, target shape PV2 will be reached (and PV4 will not be reached). ) that is, the presence of mirror reflections in the monitored beam trajectory is detected by the known beam. By observing which target shape is imaged after the movement is made. can be determined electronically and without the need for any imaging steps. Cut.

[0166] Similar algorithms can be performed using multiple beams, or optical and electrical A pattern of sub-indicators can also be used.

[0167] Referring now to FIG. 8, the relative positions of the two beam sources and their targets are: By vector subtraction of the known position of the beam source relative to the target at the receiver, The vector relationship between two targets is shown in the following diagram. Both are known because they are built into a single receiver.

[0168] The beam module 81 and the beam module 82 for which the comparison position is sought are both 2 The power is directed to a power receiver 83 which includes two targets 84 and 85 .

[0169] The relative distance and direction of the beam module 82 with respect to the beam module 81, i.e., To determine the vector 86, the beam module 81 uses the received beam, which is known from the beam transmission. A vector 87 is used to represent the position of the target 84 in the vessel 83 .

[0170] It also uses a vector 89, which is reported by the receiver 83 and - the direction and distance between target 84 and target 85.

[0171] It also uses vector 88, which is connected to beam module 82, external surface The signal may be reported by the server or the receiver 83.

[0172] Vector 87+89-88 is the vector of beam module 82 relative to beam module 81. It must be equal to the vector 86, which is the position.

[0173] Beam module 82 performs similar calculations or is similar to beam module 81 or the central The beam module 81 may also receive information from the control point. The situation is that there are many beam modules in the room, and This can occur if some of the positions are known. Then, a new beam module Once found, the beam module can receive the position information and calculate There is no need to use the new beam module in relation to another beam module. It is only necessary to locate the

[0174] In this disclosure, as described in the Overview section above, two beams have an intersection point. A novel method for determining whether a vehicle is approaching an intersection or at least whether it is approaching an intersection is presented. A set of planes is rotated incrementally around the orbit of one beam, thus The second beam is then aligned with a predetermined common axis of rotation of the first and second beams. The first beam passes through one of these incrementally rotated planes within a minimum distance from the first beam. If so, these beams have an intersection or near intersection. In order to ensure the safety of the laser, for example, at least one laser of the beam by shutting down or reducing the power of, or diverting, one of the beams In practice, this method calculating a plane formed by the first beam and at least one point on the second beam; This point is typically the point of origin of the beam or its target. These points are the most well known and easiest to calculate. If another point on the beam is close to the first beam axis, typically within a few millimeters or a number of beams If the distance is within the radius, the possibility of intersection is high, and measures to mitigate the risk of such intersection are taken as described above. On the other hand, the point on the second beam closest to the plane is If it is far, typically more than a few millimeters, exceeding the calculation error margin, or the number of beams Beyond the radius, the initial risk potential is low.

[0175] Referring now to FIG. 9, it is possible to determine whether two beams intersect, or at least are at a predetermined distance from each other. A typical procedure is to determine whether the vehicle passes within a minimum distance of The step is described.

[0176] In step 91, the beam is scanned by the beam transmitter as described above. The information about the sensor settings, receiver position and orientation is used to plot the image in 3D geometric coordinates. can be.

[0177] In step 92, one of the beam trajectories is selected and the reference plane is set to that beam. It is defined to include the line.

[0178] In step 93, the intersection of the second beam with the reference plane is determined.

[0179] In step 94, a distance between the first beam path and the intersection of the second beam with the reference plane is calculated. , the closest distance in the reference plane is the line from the intersection point to the first beam path, 1. Calculated by drawing a line perpendicular to the beam path.

[0180] In step 95, the closest distance is recorded and the previous step is performed. It is related to the angle of the quasi-plane.

[0181] Thereafter, in step 96, a reference plane containing the first beam path representation is The system is rotated about the line of the system path by a predetermined incremental angle, typically less than 5°, and step 93 is repeated. The second beam is then recalculated to determine a new intersection of the second beam with the reference surface.

[0182] Steps 94 and 95 are then performed at this new rotational position, and the reference plane The closest distance to the new angle is recorded.

[0183] This procedure continues until it is determined in step 97 that the reference plane has rotated 180°. The procedure is repeated for each incremental rotation and the procedure proceeds to step 98.

[0184] In step 98, the smallest distance is selected from all of the closest distances recorded. This defines the closest distance at which beam 2 reaches beam 1. This result is then These are used to determine whether two beams have an intersection point or are close to an intersection point. This reduces the risk posed by the increased power that may be present at such intersections of the beams. Appropriate action is then initiated to ensure laser safety.

[0185] There are other ways to determine the closest distance between two beams, such as: May include algebraic calculations.

[0186] Beam 1 is P1=t1d1+r1 is defined as: where t is a free variable, d is a direction vector, and r is the origin.

[0187] And beam 2 is P2=t2d2+r2 and the minimum distance between the lines is

number

[0188] Other methods of calculating the same closest distance may alternatively be used.

[0189] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described above. Rather, the scope of the present invention encompasses any combination or subcomponent of the various features described above. and variations and combinations thereof which would occur to one skilled in the art upon reading the above description but which are not prior art. Includes modified examples.

Claims

[Claim 1] 1. A method for controlling power output of a device optically wirelessly charged by a laser beam, comprising: converting the received laser beam into a current at a first voltage; converting the current at the first voltage to a current at a second voltage suitable for a voltage requirement of a client load; if the level of the laser beam input to the device increases such that the current at the second voltage is greater than the current required by the client load, endangering the client load; (i) retransmitting from said device in the form of radio frequency, optical, or infrared energy excess energy generated by currents exceeding those required by said client loads; or (ii) converting the received laser beam into a current at an operating point other than a maximum power point (MPP); and to do at least one of the following: A method comprising:

Images