Wireless power transmission systems for elevators

1. A wireless power transmission system for an elevator, the system comprising:

at least two wireless power sources disposed at intervals along a wall of an elevator shaft and coupled to a power supply; and

at least one wireless power receiving device configured to be mounted to an exterior of an elevator cab and to be coupled to a load onboard the elevator cab,

wherein during operation, the at least two wireless power sources are configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field to transfer wireless energy to the at least one wireless power receiving device; and

wherein lengths of the intervals between the at least two sources are determined by an amount of power delivered to the elevator cab.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the load comprises a battery.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a communication and control system coupled to at least one of the at least two wireless power sources.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein during operation, the communication and control system is configured to control an amount of energy transferred from the at least one of the at least two wireless power sources.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein during operation, the communication and control system is configured to activate the at least one of the at least two wireless power sources.

6. A wireless power transmission system for an elevator, the system comprising:

at least two wireless power sources disposed at intervals along a wall of an elevator shaft and coupled to a power supply; and

at least one wireless power receiving device configured to be mounted to an exterior of an elevator cab and to be coupled to a load onboard the elevator cab,

wherein during operation, the at least two wireless power sources are configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field to transfer wireless energy to the at least one wireless power receiving device;

wherein the load comprises a battery; and

wherein lengths of the intervals between the at least two sources are determined by a power storage capacity of the battery.

7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a communication and control system coupled to at least one of the at least two wireless power sources.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein during operation, the communication and control system is configured to control an amount of energy transferred from the at least one of the at least two wireless power sources.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein during operation, the communication and control system is configured to activate the at least one of the at least two wireless power sources.

10. A wireless power transmission system for an elevator, the system comprising:

at least two wireless power sources disposed at intervals along a wall of an elevator shaft and coupled to a power supply; and

at least one wireless power receiving device configured to be mounted to an exterior of an elevator cab and to be coupled to a load onboard the elevator cab,

wherein during operation, the at least two wireless power sources are configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field to transfer wireless energy to the at least one wireless power receiving device; and

wherein one of the at least two wireless power sources is positioned at a location in the shaft where the elevator cab spends more time than at other positions within the shaft.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein during operation, wireless energy transferred from either one of the at least two wireless power sources is used to top-off a battery of the elevator cab.

12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising at least one repeater, wherein during operation, the at least one repeater receives wireless energy from one of the at least two wireless power sources and transfers wireless energy to the at least one wireless power receiving device.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the load comprises a battery.

14. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a communication and control system coupled to at least one of the at least two wireless power sources.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein during operation, the communication and control system is configured to control an amount of energy transferred from the at least one of the at least two wireless power sources.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein during operation, the communication and control system is configured to control an amount of energy transferred from the at least one of the at least two wireless power sources.

17. A wireless power transmission system for an elevator, the system comprising:

at least two wireless power sources disposed at intervals along a wall of an elevator shaft and coupled to a power supply;

at least one wireless power receiving device configured to be mounted to an exterior of an elevator cab and to be coupled to a load onboard the elevator cab, the load comprising a battery; and

a voltage monitor coupled to the battery,

wherein during operation:

the at least two wireless power sources are configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field to transfer wireless energy to the at least one wireless power receiving device; and

a communication and control system of the at least one wireless power receiving device is configured to return the elevator cab to a position proximate to one of the at least two wireless power sources when the voltage monitor indicates a low battery level.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein during operation, a communication and control system of the one of the at least two wireless power sources is configured to control an amount of power transferred from the one of the at least two wireless power sources.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein during operation, the communication and control system is configured to control an amount of energy transferred from the at least one of the at least two wireless power sources.

20. A wireless power transmission system for an elevator, the system comprising:

at least two wireless power sources disposed at intervals along a wall of an elevator shaft and coupled to a power supply; and

at least one wireless power receiving device configured to be mounted to an exterior of an elevator cab and to be coupled to a load onboard the elevator cab,

wherein during operation, the at least two wireless power sources are configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field to transfer wireless energy to the at least one wireless power receiving device; and

wherein lengths of the intervals between the at least two sources are determined by a length of the elevator shaft.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the load comprises a battery.

22. The system of claim 20 , further comprising a communication and control system coupled to at least one of the at least two wireless power sources.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein during operation, the communication and control system is configured to control an amount of energy transferred from the at least one of the at least two wireless power sources.

24. The system of claim 22 , wherein during operation, the communication and control system is configured to activate the at least one of the at least two wireless power sources.

25. A wireless power transmission system for an elevator, the system comprising:

at least two wireless power sources disposed at intervals along a wall of an elevator shaft and coupled to a power supply; and

at least one wireless power receiving device configured to be mounted to an exterior of an elevator cab and to be coupled to a load onboard the elevator cab,

wherein during operation, the at least two wireless power sources are configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field to transfer wireless energy to the at least one wireless power receiving device; and

wherein lengths of the intervals between the at least two sources are determined by a speed with which the elevator cab travels along the elevator shaft.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the load comprises a battery.

27. The system of claim 25 , further comprising a communication and control system coupled to at least one of the at least two wireless power sources.

28. The system of claim 27 , wherein during operation, the communication and control system is configured to control an amount of energy transferred from the at least one of the at least two wireless power sources.

29. The system of claim 27 , wherein during operation, the communication and control system is configured to activate the at least one of the at least two wireless power sources.