Beam power with multipoint reception

1. A system for supplying beamed power to a plurality of receiving units, comprising:

a location unit configured to locate a target receiving unit in need of power by

broadcasting a beam indicative of the system's ability to supply power; and

receiving a request for power from the receiving unit in response to the broadcast beam; and

a power beaming unit configured to beam power to a plurality of receiving units in response to the request for power.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power to a plurality of receiving units simultaneously.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power to the plurality of receiving units simultaneously by splitting an output beam.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power to the plurality of receiving units simultaneously by generating a plurality of output beams.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power to a plurality of receiving units in series.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to scan a power beam to each member of the plurality of receiving units in turn.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to monitor power needs of each member of the plurality of receiving units and to direct the power beam to each unit according to a determination of its relative priority for power.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location unit is configured to receive a request for power in the form of a transmission from the receiving unit.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location unit is configured to receive a request for power in the form of a reflection of the broadcast signal from the receiving unit.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the request for power from the receiving unit includes location information for the receiving unit.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the location information for the receiving unit is encoded in a signal received from the receiving unit.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the location information for the receiving unit is determinable from a path of a signal received from the receiving unit.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the location unit is configured to determine the path of the received signal by scanning

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the location unit is configured to determine the path of the received signal by imaging.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location unit is configured to broadcast an electromagnetic signal.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location unit is configured to broadcast an acoustic signal.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location unit is configured to receive a request for power including information describing power needs.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the information describing power needs includes at least one datum selected from the group consisting of power type, wavelength, pulse characteristics, power amount, polarization, power-vs-time profile, and time window.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the information describing power needs includes at least one datum selected from the group consisting of acceptable price, ability to pay, mode of payment, and identifying information for the receiving unit.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the location unit is configured to exchange data with the receiving unit.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the location unit is configured to transmit data to the receiving unit by modulating the beamed power from the power beaming unit.

22. The system of claim 20 , wherein the location unit is configured to transmit data to the receiving unit via a separate channel from the beamed power from the power beaming unit.

23. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power directly to the receiving unit.

24. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power to a beam-directing element configured to redirect the power to the receiving unit.

25. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to gradually increase an amount of power beamed from the power beaming unit.

26. A method of supplying beamed power to a plurality of receiving units, comprising:

broadcasting a signal indicating an ability to supply power;

receiving a request for power from at least two members of the plurality of receiving units in response to the broadcast signal; and

beaming power to the at least two receiving units in response to the request.

27. A system for supplying beamed power to a plurality of receiving units, comprising:

a location unit configured to locate a target receiving unit in need of power by scanning a beam indicative of the system's ability to supply power; and receiving a request for power from the receiving unit in the form of a retroreflection of the scanned beam; and

a power beaming unit configured to beam power to a plurality of receiving units in response to the request for power.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power to a plurality of receiving units simultaneously.

29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power to the plurality of receiving units simultaneously by splitting an output beam.

30. The system of claim 28 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power to the plurality of receiving units simultaneously by generating a plurality of output beams.

31. The system of claim 27 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power to a plurality of receiving units in series.

32. The system of claim 31 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to scan a power beam to each member of the plurality of receiving units in turn.

33. The system of claim 31 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to monitor power needs of each member of the plurality of receiving units and to direct the power beam to each unit according to a determination of its relative priority for power.

34. The system of claim 27 , wherein the request for power from the receiving unit includes location information for the receiving unit.

35. The system of claim 34 , wherein the location information for the receiving unit is encoded in a signal received from the receiving unit.

36. The system of claim 34 , wherein the location information for the receiving unit is determinable from a path of a signal received from the receiving unit.

37. The system of claim 27 , wherein the location unit is configured to broadcast an electromagnetic signal.

38. The system of claim 27 , wherein the location unit is configured to broadcast an acoustic signal.

39. The system of claim 27 , wherein the location unit is configured to receive a request for power including information describing power needs.

40. The system of claim 27 , wherein the location unit is configured to exchange data with the receiving unit.

41. The system of claim 40 , wherein the location unit is configured to transmit data to the receiving unit by modulating the beamed power from the power beaming unit.

42. The system of claim 40 , wherein the location unit is configured to transmit data to the receiving unit via a separate channel from the beamed power from the power beaming unit.

43. The system of claim 27 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power directly to the receiving unit.

44. The system of claim 27 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power to a beam-directing element configured to redirect the power to the receiving unit.

45. The system of claim 27 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to gradually increase an amount of power beamed from the power beaming unit.

46. The method of claim 26 , wherein broadcasting a signal and receiving a request for power occur at a common location.

47. The method of claim 26 , wherein broadcasting a signal includes broadcasting a signal from a plurality of locations.

48. The method of claim 26 , wherein broadcasting includes broadcasting according to a time schedule.

49. The method of claim 26 , wherein beaming power includes beaming power within an enclosed space.

50. The method of claim 26 , further comprising detecting a condition, wherein broadcasting is in response to detecting the condition.

51. The method of claim 26 , wherein receiving a request for power includes receiving a transmission from at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

52. The method of claim 26 , wherein receiving a request for power includes receiving a reflection of the broadcast signal from at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

53. The method of claim 26 , wherein receiving a request for power includes receiving location information for at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

54. The method of claim 53 , wherein the location information for the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units is encoded into a signal received from the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

55. The method of claim 53 , wherein the receiving location information includes determining location from a path of a signal received from the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

56. The method of claim 26 , wherein broadcasting the signal includes broadcasting an electromagnetic signal.

57. The method of claim 26 , wherein broadcasting the signal includes broadcasting an acoustic signal.

58. The method of claim 26 , wherein receiving the request for power includes receiving information describing power needs.

59. The method of claim 26 , wherein receiving the request for power includes receiving identifying information for at least one member of the plurality of receiving units, and determining a location for the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units using the identifying information.

60. The method of claim 59 , wherein determining a location for the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units includes determining a previous location for the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

61. The method of claim 26 , wherein determining a location for the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units includes accessing a location database.

62. The method of claim 26 , further comprising determining an attitude of at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

63. The method of claim 26 , further comprising sending a signal to at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

64. The method of claim 63 , wherein sending the signal to the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units includes modulating the beamed power to the receiving unit.

65. The method of claim 63 , wherein sending the signal to the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units includes transmitting a signal via a separate channel from the beamed power.

66. The method of claim 26 , wherein beaming power includes beaming power directly to at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

67. The method of claim 26 , wherein beaming power includes beaming power to a beam-directing element configured to redirect the power to at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

68. The method of claim 26 , wherein beaming power includes gradually increasing an amount of power beamed.

69. A method of supplying beamed power to a plurality of receiving units, comprising:

scanning a signal indicating an ability to supply power;

receiving a request for power from at least two members of the plurality of receiving units in the form of a reflection of the scanned signal; and

beaming power to the at least two receiving units in response to the request.

70. The method of claim 69 , wherein scanning a signal and receiving a request for power occur at a common location.

71. The method of claim 69 , wherein scanning a signal includes scanning a signal from a plurality of locations.

72. The method of claim 69 , wherein scanning includes scanning according to a time schedule.

73. The method of claim 69 , wherein beaming power includes beaming power within an enclosed space.

74. The method of claim 69 , further comprising detecting a condition, wherein scanning is in response to detecting the condition.

75. The method of claim 69 , wherein receiving a request for power includes receiving location information for at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

76. The method of claim 75 , wherein the location information for the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units is encoded into a signal received from the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

77. The method of claim 75 , wherein the receiving location information includes determining location from a path of a signal received from the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

78. The method of claim 69 , wherein scanning the signal includes scanning an electromagnetic signal.

79. The method of claim 69 , wherein scanning the signal includes scanning an acoustic signal.

80. The method of claim 69 , wherein receiving the request for power includes receiving information describing power needs.

81. The method of claim 69 , wherein receiving the request for power includes receiving identifying information for at least one member of the plurality of receiving units, and determining a location for the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units using the identifying information.

82. The method of claim 81 , wherein determining a location for the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units includes determining a previous location for the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

83. The method of claim 81 , wherein determining a location for the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units includes accessing a location database.

84. The method of claim 69 , further comprising determining an attitude of at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

85. The method of claim 69 , further comprising sending a signal to at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

86. The method of claim 85 , wherein sending the signal to the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units includes modulating the beamed power to the receiving unit.

87. The method of claim 85 , wherein sending the signal to the at least one member of the plurality of receiving units includes transmitting a signal via a separate channel from the beamed power.

88. The method of claim 69 , wherein beaming power includes beaming power directly to at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

89. The method of claim 69 , wherein beaming power includes beaming power to a beam-directing element configured to redirect the power to at least one member of the plurality of receiving units.

90. The method of claim 69 , wherein beaming power includes gradually increasing an amount of power beamed.