Wireless power beam routing infrastructure systems and methods
Apparatus, methods and systems of wireless power distribution are disclosed. Embodiments involve the redirection of collimated energy to a converter, which stores or converts the energy into a more suitable form of energy for at least one specific point-of-use that is coupled to the converter.
1 . A wireless power beam routing infrastructure system, comprising:
a power beam generator configured to form a collimated power beam;
a plurality of structural building elements, wherein the structural building element comprises one or more pathways for the collimated power beam;
at least one redirector integrated within the plurality of structural building elements wherein the at least one redirector is configured to alter a transmission path of the collimated power beam; and
a converter integrated within the plurality of structural building elements, wherein the converter is configured to convert a first form of energy from the collimated power beam into a second usable form of energy.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the structural building elements comprises a wall strut.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the wall strut comprises a pathway that includes at least one gap or hole through which the collimated power beam passes.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structural building elements comprise at least one wall, roof, ceiling, or floor.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one redirector comprises one or more of a mirror, a prism, or a beam splitter.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the converter comprises a photovoltaic cell.
7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more pathway switches that alter the direction of the collimated power beam along at least one of the one or more pathways.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the pathway switch is operable based on at least one trigger.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one trigger comprises at least one of a sensed movement, a physical manipulation, a change in one or more physical conditions, an electronic trigger or a sound.
10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an energy storage device integrated within at least one of the plurality of structural building elements, wherein the energy storage device is configured to store energy obtained from the collimated power beam or energy converted by the converter from the collimated power beam.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the collimated power beam comprises solar energy.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the collimated power beam comprises at least one of microwaves, laser light, infrared light, X-rays, or radio waves.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pathways route through a thickness of a wall, wherein one or more of the at least one redirector is integrated within the thickness of the wall.
14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pathways further travel through free space within a building structure comprising the plurality of structural building elements.
15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the converter is disposed in an interior portion of a wall.
16 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising an electrical outlet located on the wall wherein the electrical outlet provides access to electrical output from the converter.
17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the power beam generator adjusts a flux density of the collimated power beam based on optical properties of one or more of the redirector, the converter, or the plurality of structural building elements.
18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of structural building elements comprise at least one of either a lit or exposed portion or an unlit or unexposed portion of a structure.
19 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising optic fibers integrated within one or more of the plurality of structural building elements, wherein the optic fibers are configured to transmit the collimated power beam.
20 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the collimated power beam comprises a concentrated power beam having a power density of at least 1000 watts per square meter.
21 . A method for routing power beams within a building infrastructure, the method comprising:
generating a collimated power beam using at least one power beam generator, wherein the at least one power beam generator is configured to transmit the collimated light beam through one or more structural building elements, wherein the structural building element comprises one or more pathways for the collimated power beam;
redirecting the collimated light beam using at least one redirector integrated within the plurality of structural building elements wherein the at least one redirector is configured to alter a transmission path of the collimated power beam through the one or more structural building elements; and
converting the collimated power beam using at least one converter integrated within the plurality of structural building elements, wherein the converter is configured to convert energy from the collimated power beam from a first form of energy into a second form of energy.
22 . A method for constructing a wireless power beam routing infrastructure within a building, the method comprising:
configuring a power beam generator to form a collimated power beam;
assembling a plurality of structural building elements of the building, wherein one or more of the structural building elements comprises one or more pathways for the collimated power beam;
positioning at least one redirector integrated within the plurality of structural building elements, wherein the at least one redirector is configured to alter a transmission path of the collimated power beam; and
integrating a converter within the plurality of structural building elements, wherein the converter is configured to convert a first form of energy from the collimated power beam into a second form of energy.