Guided Surface Waveguide Probe Control for Energy Loss Reduction
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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, such as the Earth, by synthesizing a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle, resulting in zero reflection and launching a guided electromagnetic field as a guided surface wave.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional antenna structures are used to transmit signals via radio waves, then electromagnetic energy can be radiated, but energy loss is significant due to radiation spreading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lossy conducting medium (such as the Earth) as an intermediary to guide electromagnetic surface waves between transmitter and receiver. This mediator allows energy to be transmitted along the interface rather than radiating through free space, dramatically reducing energy loss while maintaining practical feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the propagation medium from free space to a lossy conducting medium interface, and adjusts the wave mode from radiated electromagnetic waves to guided surface waves. This parameter change enables efficient energy transmission along the conducting medium surface with exponential decay rather than geometric spreading
2Productivity
If guided surface waves are launched over lossy conducting media, then energy transmission efficiency is improved, but achieving mode-matching requires precise control of wave front incidence angle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a control system that monitors the guided surface wave generation process and adjusts the excitation parameters to maintain optimal wave front incidence angles. This feedback mechanism ensures consistent mode-matching and efficient energy transmission despite variations in medium properties or environmental conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamically adjustable excitation structures that can modify their configuration or electrical characteristics to optimize the wave front incidence angle. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to adapt to changing conditions and maintain maximum transmission efficiency
3Length of moving object
If radiated electromagnetic fields are used, then signal transmission can occur over long distances, but energy loss increases with distance due to geometric spreading
Solution Approach 1:
The lossy conducting medium serves as a guiding intermediary that confines electromagnetic energy to its surface, allowing long-distance transmission without the geometric spreading that occurs in free space radiation. The surface wave follows the interface between the conducting medium and adjacent medium, maintaining energy concentration over extended distances
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the propagation mode from three-dimensional radiation to two-dimensional surface wave guidance, fundamentally altering how energy distributes in space. This parameter change transforms the energy decay characteristic from geometric spreading (1/r) to exponential decay with distance, enabling efficient long-distance transmission
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 significantly reduced energy loss, achieving mode-matched guided electromagnetic fields and overcoming the limitations of traditional radiated electromagnetic fields.
Implementation Method 1
by synthesizing a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle, resulting in zero reflection
Implementation Method 2
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
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments for controlling the operation of a guided surface waveguide probe. A control system coupled to the guided surface waveguide probe can monitor and control the guided surface waveguide probe and one or more subsystems associated with the guided surface waveguide probe. Based on data collected from the guided surface waveguide probe and/or the various subsystems, the control system can adjust the operation of the guided surface waveguide probe. Human operators can interact with the control system at a location outside of a safety perimeter surrounding the guided surface waveguide probe.