Beam power with receiver impingement detection
A beam power source transmits a signal indicating power availability, receives a request for power in response, and beams power in response to the request.
1. A system for supplying beamed power, comprising:
a power beaming unit configured to supply power to a receiving unit in the form of a power beam;
a guard beaming unit configured to produce a guard beam configured to substantially surround the power beam and differing in modulation, polarization, or character from the power beam; and
a beam interruption unit configured to respond to a direction from the receiving unit to prevent a detected imminent impingement on the power beam.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the beam interruption unit is configured to suspend or terminate the power beam to prevent the detected imminent impingement.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the beam interruption unit is configured to reroute the power beam to prevent the detected imminent impingement.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a beam combiner configured to combine the power beam and the guard beam in a substantially collinear arrangement.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guard beam is substantially cylindrical.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guard beam includes a plurality of beams arranged around the power beam.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guard beam is configured to scan an area substantially surrounding the power beam.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guard beam includes a plurality of substantially concentric beams.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the beam interruption unit is configured to determine a characteristic of an object impinging on the guard beam.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the characteristic of the object is selected from the group consisting of speed, direction, size, shape, and composition.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guard beam is electromagnetic.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guard beam is acoustic.
13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a beam optimization unit configured to use information received from the receiving unit to adjust a power beam characteristic.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the beam optimization unit is configured to adjust a beam spot size, shape, power, intensity, or power-time profile.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power within an enclosed space.
16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power directly to the receiving unit.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam electromagnetic power.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the electromagnetic power has an optical frequency.
21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the electromagnetic power has an RF frequency.
22. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power beaming unit includes a laser that generates a power beam.
23. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam pulsed power.
24. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power beaming unit is configured to beam power continuously.
25. The system of claim 1 , wherein the direction from the receiving unit is delivered as an electromagnetic signal.
26. The system of claim 1 , wherein the direction from the receiving unit is delivered as a cessation of an electromagnetic signal.
27. A method of supplying beamed power, comprising:
directing a composite power beam toward a receiving unit, the composite power beam including a main power beam and a guard beam substantially surrounding the main power beam, the guard beam differing in modulation, polarization, or character from the power beam;
receiving information from the receiving unit concerning an imminent impingement on the guard beam; and
responding to prevent the imminent impingement on the power beam.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein responding to prevent an imminent impingement on the power beam includes suspending or terminating the power beam.
29. The method of claim 27 , wherein responding to prevent an imminent impingement on the power beam includes rerouting the power beam.
30. The method of claim 27 , further comprising combining the power beam and the guard beam in a substantially collinear arrangement to form the composite power beam.
31. The method of claim 27 , wherein the guard beam is substantially cylindrical.
32. The method of claim 27 , wherein the guard beam includes a plurality of beams arranged around the power beam.
33. The method of claim 27 , further comprising scanning the guard beam in an area substantially surrounding the power beam.
34. The method of claim 27 , wherein the guard beam includes a plurality of substantially concentric beams.
35. The method of claim 27 , further comprising producing a guard beam by reflecting energy from a retroreflector array located at the receiving unit.
36. The method of claim 27 , further comprising determining a characteristic of an object impinging on the guard beam.
37. The method of claim 36 , wherein the characteristic of the object is selected from the group consisting of speed, direction, size, shape, and composition.
38. The method of claim 27 , wherein the guard beam is electromagnetic.
39. The method of claim 27 , wherein the guard beam is acoustic.
40. The method of claim 27 , further comprising using the monitored received reflection to adjust a power beam characteristic.
41. The method of claim 40 , wherein adjust includes adjusting a beam spot size, shape, power, intensity, or power-time profile.
42. The method of claim 27 , wherein directing a composite power beam includes beaming power within an enclosed space.
43. The method of claim 27 , wherein directing a composite power beam includes beaming power directly to the receiving unit.
44. The method of claim 27 , wherein directing a composite power beam includes beaming power to a beam-directing element configured to redirect the power to the receiving unit.
45. The method of claim 27 , wherein directing a composite power beam includes gradually increasing an amount of power beamed from the power beaming unit.
46. The method of claim 27 , wherein the main power beam is electromagnetic.
47. The method of claim 46 , wherein the main power beam has an optical frequency.
48. The method of claim 46 , wherein the main power beam has an RF frequency.
49. The method of claim 27 , wherein the main power beam is laser-generated.
50. The method of claim 27 , wherein directing a composite power beam includes directing a pulsed main power beam.
51. The method of claim 27 , wherein directing a composite power beam includes directing a continuous main power beam.
52. The method of claim 27 , wherein receiving information from the receiving unit includes receiving a signal from the receiving unit.
53. The method of claim 27 , wherein receiving information from the receiving unit includes ceasing to receive a signal from the receiving unit.