Guided Surface Waveguide Probe Brewster Angle Launch

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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 waveguide 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

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If conventional antenna structures are used to transmit radio waves, then radiation fields can be launched, but field strength decreases rapidly with distance and reflection occurs at lossy conducting media surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield strengthVSAvoidreflection loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameters of wave transmission by transitioning from conventional radiation fields to guided surface waves. This involves operating at specific frequencies and angles (Brewster angle) to excite surface wave modes that propagate along the lossy conducting medium rather than radiating into space, thereby maintaining field strength and reducing reflection losses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces guided surface waves as an intermediary mode between conventional radiation and direct conduction. These surface waves propagate along the interface of the lossy conducting medium, acting as a mediator that carries energy efficiently along the surface without the rapid attenuation characteristic of radiation fields or the reflection problems of direct incidence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If no practical structure is used for launching open surface guided waves, then theoretical possibilities remain unexploited, but efficient propagation along lossy conducting media cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepropagation efficiencyVSAvoidstructure implementation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the transmission problem into distinct functional components: excitation structures (probes or antennas) that launch surface waves, the guided surface wave mode itself that propagates along the interface, and receiving structures that detect the waves. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent describes universal excitation structures and receiving structures that can operate across different frequencies and environments. The guided surface wave mode itself is a universal phenomenon that can propagate along any lossy conducting medium interface, making the system broadly applicable to various practical scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of energy

If guided surface waves are launched using synthesized wave front at complex Brewster angle, then zero reflection is achieved, but complex field synthesis is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereflection lossVSAvoidfield synthesis complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and designing the excitation structures to inherently produce the required complex Brewster angle wave fronts. The structures are configured in advance with specific geometries and orientations that automatically generate the correct field distribution for zero-reflection coupling, eliminating the need for complex real-time synthesis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 higher field strength near the source and reduced reflection, overcoming the limitations of existing technologies.

Implementation Method 1

by synthesizing a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle, resulting in zero reflection

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBrewster angle: Brewster's Angle

Implementation Method 2

launching a guided electromagnetic field as a guided surface wave

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGuided surface wave: Surface Acoustic Wave

Data Source

PatentUS10601099B2Mobile guided surface waveguide probes and receivers

Publication Date: 2020.03.24 CPG TECH LLC

AI summary

The present disclosure sets forth various embodiments of power reception kits and methods. In one embodiment, a guided surface wave receive structure is configured to obtain electrical energy from a guided surface wave travelling along a terrestrial medium. Power output circuitry having a power output is configured to be coupled to an electrical load. The electrical load is experienced as a load at an excitation source coupled to a guided surface waveguide probe generating the guided surface wave. At least one connector is configured to couple the at least one guided surface wave receive structure to the power output circuitry.