Guided Surface Waveguide Probe for Wireless Power Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies have not effectively enabled the practical launching of open surface guided waves over planar or spherical surfaces of lossy, homogeneous media, despite theoretical possibilities existing for over a century.

Innovation Solution

The development of guided surface waveguide probes that excite electric fields mode-matched to a guided surface wave mode on the surface of a lossy conducting medium, such as the Earth, using a charge terminal elevated above the medium and a feed network to synthesize a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle, thereby launching a guided surface wave along the medium.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional antenna structures are used for RF transmission, then electromagnetic energy can be radiated, but the energy spreads out and is lost regardless of whether a receiver is present

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRF energy lossVSAvoidwireless power delivery capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a guided surface wave mode as an intermediary between the transmitter and receiver. Instead of radiating energy directly through free space where it spreads and is lost, the electromagnetic energy is coupled into a guided surface wave mode that propagates along the interface between the lossy conducting medium (e.g., Earth) and the air. This guided mode acts as a mediator that confines and directs the energy along the surface, reducing spreading loss and enabling more efficient wireless power delivery over distance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If RFID systems use RF energy emitted from a reader device, then tags can be powered and identified, but the range is severely limited and tag capabilities are constrained by small available energy

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRFID system range and tag capabilityVSAvoidenergy available to tags

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental propagation parameter from conventional radiated RF waves to guided surface wave modes. By exciting a guided surface wave mode along the Earth's surface, the system achieves significantly extended range compared to traditional RFID. The guided mode maintains higher energy density over distance, providing sufficient power for tags with greater capabilities beyond simple identification, thus resolving both the range limitation and energy availability constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If guided surface waveguide probes are used to excite mode-matched electric fields, then electromagnetic energy propagates efficiently along the surface with reduced reflection, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereflection lossVSAvoidguided surface waveguide probe structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the excitation mechanism from conventional antennas to guided surface waveguide probes that generate electric fields mode-matched to the guided surface wave mode. By adjusting the probe structure and excitation parameters to match the mode characteristics, the system achieves reduced reflection and improved coupling efficiency. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by minimizing energy loss through reflection while managing the inherent complexity of the specialized probe structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 efficient propagation of electromagnetic energy along the surface of lossy conducting media with reduced reflection, achieving a guided electromagnetic field that can be used for wireless transmission and power delivery systems.

Implementation Method 1

guided surface waveguide probes that excite electric fields mode-matched to a guided surface wave mode on the surface of a lossy conducting medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic field excitation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

synthesize a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle, thereby launching a guided surface wave along the medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBrewster angle incidence: Brewster's Angle

Implementation Method 3

efficient propagation of electromagnetic energy along the surface of lossy conducting media with reduced reflection, achieving a guided electromagnetic field

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGuided surface wave propagation: Waveguide

Data Source

PatentUS9916485B1Method of managing objects using an electromagnetic guided surface waves over a terrestrial medium

Publication Date: 2018.03.13 QUANTUM WAVE LLC

AI summary

A method of managing objects in a site includes producing a guided surface wave with a guided surface waveguide probe, the guided surface wave having sufficient energy density to power object identification tags in an entirety of a site; receiving reply signals from the object identification tags, each object identification tag associated with an object; and identifying geolocation of one or more the objects according to received reply signals from the object identification tags that are associated with the one or more of the objects.