Guided Surface Waveguide Probe for Wireless Power Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
For over a century, there has been no practical structure for efficiently launching open surface guided waves over planar or spherical surfaces of lossy, homogeneous media, despite theoretical possibilities.
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, substantially mode-matched in magnitude and phase to a Zenneck waveguide mode, using a charge terminal elevated above the medium to synthesize a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle, minimizing reflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional antenna structures are used to transmit RF signals, then radiation fields can be launched, but energy loss is high and efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional radiation-based RF transmission with guided surface wave transmission. Instead of using traditional antennas that radiate energy into space, the invention uses a waveguide probe structure that guides electromagnetic waves along the surface of the Earth, substituting a radiation-based system with a guided wave system to reduce energy loss and improve transmission efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the Earth's surface as an intermediary medium to guide the electromagnetic waves. By using the Earth's surface as a waveguide, the system can transmit power over long distances with reduced energy loss compared to free-space radiation, as the guided waves are confined to and supported by the Earth's surface.
2Loss of energy
If guided surface wave modes are used for power transmission, then energy loss is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the electromagnetic wave transmission by operating in the guided surface wave mode rather than radiation mode. This involves adjusting the frequency, polarization, and launch angle parameters to match the characteristics of Zenneck waves, thereby reducing energy loss while managing the complexity through parameter optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a polyphase waveguide probe structure with multiple charge terminals positioned at specific heights and phases. This structure creates an equipotential surface that matches the impedance of the guided surface wave mode, reducing reflections and maximizing energy transfer efficiency while maintaining a manageable structural complexity.
3Reliability
If a charge terminal is elevated above the lossy conducting medium, then guided surface waves can be launched with reduced reflection, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional ground-plane structure to a three-dimensional elevated charge terminal configuration. By positioning the charge terminal at a specific height above the lossy conducting medium, the system creates a vertical dimension that enables mode-matching to guided surface waves, improving launch efficiency and reducing reflection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an excitation source that can dynamically adjust the phase and amplitude of the voltage applied to the charge terminal. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize the wave front synthesis for different operating conditions, maintaining high launch efficiency while managing the complexity through adaptive control rather than fixed rigid structures.
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
This approach allows for the efficient launch of guided electromagnetic fields as guided surface waves along lossy conducting media, such as the Earth, with exponential decay and reduced energy loss, enabling effective power transmission.
Implementation Method 1
excite the plurality of charge terminals, the excitation of the plurality of charge terminals generating a plurality of electromagnetic fields which are substantially mode-matched to a Zenneck surface wave mode on the terrestrial medium
Implementation Method 2
couple into a guided surface wave mode along the surface of a lossy conducting medium
Implementation Method 3
synthesize a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle associated with the terrestrial medium
Implementation Method 4
minimizing reflection
Implementation Method 5
with exponential decay and reduced energy loss, enabling effective power transmission
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5A
AI summary
The use of a combination of wired and wireless power distribution equipment, coexisting together in various embodiments, is described. For example, one or more sub- transmission and/or distribution stations for wired power distribution, for example, can be retrofitted to include wireless power distribution equipment. Using the wireless power distribution equipment, power received via a wired transmission network can be re- transmitted using a sub-transmission and/or a distribution probe, for example. Similarly, power received by wireless receive structures through transmission, sub-transmission, or distribution frequency guided surface waves can be re-transmitted over wired networks, such as wired transmission, sub-transmission, and/or distribution networks.