Guided Surface Waveguide Probe for Efficient Energy Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies have not achieved practical efficiency in launching open surface guided waves over planar or spherical surfaces of lossy, homogeneous media, despite theoretical possibilities existing for over a century.
Innovation Solution
Guided surface waveguide probes are configured to excite electric fields that couple into a guided surface wave mode along the surface of a lossy conducting medium, such as the Earth, by synthesizing a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle, thereby launching a guided electromagnetic field in the form of a guided surface wave.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional antenna structures are used to transmit radio wave signals, then radio frequency transmission can be achieved, but the energy coupling efficiency into surface wave modes is poor and the transmission range is severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters by exciting the antenna at a complex Brewster angle rather than conventional angles. This parameter change enables efficient coupling into surface wave modes, transforming the energy loss problem into an efficient transmission solution while maintaining relatively simple antenna structures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment capabilities where the antenna system can adapt its excitation parameters (phase, amplitude, angle) to match the complex Brewster angle conditions. This dynamic optimization allows the system to achieve maximum energy coupling efficiency into surface waves while maintaining structural simplicity
2Use of energy by moving object
If RFID systems use RF energy emitted from a reader device to power tags, then tag identification and communication can be achieved, but the usable energy amount is small and the operational range is severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces surface waves as an intermediary transmission medium between the reader device and tags. By coupling RF energy into surface wave modes that propagate along the Earth's surface, the system achieves extended operational range and increased usable energy delivery to tags compared to conventional direct RF transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission parameters by utilizing complex Brewster angle excitation to launch surface waves. This parameter change enables the RF energy to propagate as guided surface waves with reduced attenuation, thereby increasing both the operational range and usable energy available to remote tags
3Loss of energy
If guided surface waves are launched over lossy conducting media, then energy coupling into waveguide modes can be achieved, but previous attempts have not achieved practical efficiency despite theoretical possibilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves practical efficiency by changing the excitation parameters to match the complex Brewster angle conditions. This parameter optimization enables effective energy coupling into surface wave modes over lossy conducting media, transforming theoretical possibilities into practical implementations with demonstrated energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms to monitor and adjust the excitation parameters in real-time to maintain optimal coupling conditions. By using feedback to tune the phase, amplitude, and angle of excitation, the system achieves and maintains high energy coupling efficiency into surface wave modes despite variations in the lossy conducting media
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables the efficient propagation of guided surface waves along lossy conducting media with exponential decay, resembling transmission line modes, and allows for increased energy coupling into the waveguide mode, overcoming previous inefficiencies in surface wave transmission.
Implementation Method 1
synthesizing a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle
Implementation Method 2
excite electric fields that couple into a guided surface wave mode
Data Source
AI summary
A method of tracking an object including producing a guided surface wave with a guided surface waveguide probe, the guided surface wave having sufficient energy density to power object identification tags across an area of interest; receiving return signals from a tag of interest at plural receivers, the tag of interest associated with an object and the receivers that receive the return signals change over time as the tag moves with the associated object in the area of interest; and identifying a series of geolocations at which the object was present as a function of time according to the received reply signals from the tag.