Self-charging electric vehicles and aircraft, and wireless energy distribution system

Abstract

A method and system for efficient distribution of power using wireless means, and a system and method for wireless power distribution to provide electric devices, such as vehicles with a way to continuously and wirelessly collect, use and charge their power systems and thereby use the transmitted power for operation. The system and method allows a hybrid, simplified and less costly way to charge devices, such as vehicles so that the devices continuously operate while charging/recharging.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An electric device charging system, comprising:
 a coupling to a power source which provides electric power;   a first electrical storage device which includes a member of the group consisting of a super capacitor (SC) and a high speed charging battery (HSCB);   a second electrical storage device which includes a member of the group consisting of a second high speed charging battery (HSCB) and a slow speed charging battery (SSCB);   a power management system (PMS) which includes a processor and software, wherein the software, when executed by the processor, causes the PMS to:
 control a power transfer from the first electrical storage device to the second electrical storage device; 
   wherein the PMS controls the power transfer based upon at least one characteristic of the second electrical storage device and a charge stored on the second electrical storage device to reduce the number of charge cycles needed by the second electrical storage device to thereby extend the usable life of the second electrical storage device.   
     
     
         22 . The electric device charging system of  claim 21 , wherein the power transfer is controlled to cause a larger amount of power to be transferred in a fixed amount of time from the power source to electric charge stored on the second electrical storage device than would be possible by transferring the electric power directly from the power source to the second electrical storage device, to thereby increase the amount of electric charge that can be added to the second electrical storage device in the fixed amount of time. 
     
     
         23 . The electric device charging system of  claim 21 , wherein the PMS controls the power transfer to manage a charging cycle of the second electrical storage device. 
     
     
         24 . The electric device charging system of  claim 23 , wherein the PMS manages the charging cycle to maximize a rate of charging of the second electrical storage device. 
     
     
         25 . The electric device charging system of  claim 21 , wherein the power transfer is controlled based upon at least one charge level associated with the second electrical storage device. 
     
     
         26 . The electric device charging system of  claim 21 , wherein the power transfer is controlled based upon at least one charge transfer rate associated with the second electrical storage device. 
     
     
         27 . The electric device charging system of  claim 21 , wherein the power transfer is controlled to regulate a rate of transfer of charge from the first electrical storage device to the second electrical storage device. 
     
     
         28 . The electric device charging system of  claim 21 , wherein the PMS further controls a second power transfer via the coupling to the first electrical storage device. 
     
     
         29 . The electric device charging system of  claim 21 , wherein the software, when executed by the processor, further causes the PMS to:
 discharge into a load a first electric power from the first electrical storage device; and   control a transfer of a second electric power from the second electrical storage device to the first electrical storage device;   wherein respective quantities of the first electric power and the second electric power are determined based upon a present loading requirement associated with the load and respective characteristics of and current charge levels in at least one of the first electrical storage device and the second electrical storage device.   
     
     
         30 . The electric device charging system of  claim 29 , wherein the PMS controls the transfer of the second electric power based upon at least one characteristic of the second electrical storage device and a charge stored on the second electrical storage device to reduce the number of discharge cycles needed by the second electrical storage device to thereby extend the usable life of the second electrical storage device. 
     
     
         31 . The electric device charging system of  claim 29 , wherein the power source comprises a solar panel. 
     
     
         32 . The electric device charging system of  claim 29 , wherein the power source comprises a wind power turbine. 
     
     
         33 . The electric device charging system of  claim 21 , wherein the software, when executed by the processor, further causes the PMS to discharge electric power into an electrical grid from the first electrical storage device;
 wherein the quantity of the discharged electric power is determined based upon a present loading requirement associated with the load and respective characteristics of and current charge levels in at least one of the first electrical storage device and the second electrical storage device.   
     
     
         34 . The electric device charging system of  claim 33 , wherein the electric power transferred to the electric grid is sold for economic compensation. 
     
     
         35 . The electric device charging system of  claim 21 , wherein the first electrical storage device includes the SC and the second electrical storage device includes the second HSCB. 
     
     
         36 . The electric device charging system of  claim 21 , wherein the first electrical storage device includes the SC and the second electrical storage device includes the SSCB. 
     
     
         37 . The electric device charging system of  claim 21 , wherein the first electrical storage device includes the HSCB and the second electrical storage device includes the SSCB. 
     
     
         38 . The electric device charging system of  claim 21 , wherein the second electrical storage device includes both the second HSCB and the SSCB, and wherein the software, when executed by the processor, further causes the PMS to:
 control a second power transfer from the second HSCB to the SSCB;   wherein the PMS controls the second power transfer based upon at least one characteristic of the SSCB and a charge stored on the SSCB to reduce the number of charge and discharge cycles needed by the SSCB to thereby extend the usable life of the SSCB.   
     
     
         39 . The electric device charging system of  claim 38 , wherein the power transfer and the second power transfer are controlled to cause a larger amount of electric charge to be transferred in a fixed amount of time from the power source to the SSCB than would be possible by transferring the electric power directly from the power source to the SSCB. 
     
     
         40 . The electric device charging system of  claim 38 , wherein the third power transfer is controlled to regulate a rate of transfer of charge from the second HSCB to the SSCB. 
     
     
         41 . The electric device charging system of  claim 38 , wherein the software, when executed by the processor, further causes the PMS to:
 discharge into a load a first electric power from the first electrical storage device; and   control a transfer of a second electric power from the second HSCB to the first electrical storage device;   control a transfer of a third electric power from the SSCB to the second HSCB;   wherein the respective quantities of the first electric power, the second electric power and the third electric power are determined based upon a present loading requirement associated with the load and respective characteristics of and current charge levels in the first electric storage device, the second HSCB and the SSCB.   
     
     
         42 . The electric device charging system of  claim 21 , wherein the software, when executed by the processor, further causes the PMS to:
 perform measurement and dynamic tuning of a parameter associated with the second power transfer.   
     
     
         43 . The electric device charging system of  claim 42 , wherein the parameter corresponds to an electric voltage. 
     
     
         44 . The electric device charging system of  claim 42 , wherein the parameter corresponds to amperage of electric current. 
     
     
         45 . The electric device charging system of  claim 42 , wherein the parameter corresponds to a cycle rate. 
     
     
         46 . The electric device charging system of  claim 21 , wherein the source of power comprises a primary resonant coil and the coupling includes a secondary resonant coil which is tuned to have a resonant frequency that is substantially the same as a resonant frequency of a primary resonant coil, wherein the primary resonant coil is operatively connected to a source of electrical power and the secondary resonant coil is coupled via a wireless coupling to receive the electric power from the primary resonant coil. 
     
     
         47 . The electric device charging system of  claim 46 , wherein the quantity of electric power that is transferred is controlled based at least partially upon a distance between the primary resonant coil and the secondary resonant coil. 
     
     
         48 . The electric device charging system of  claim 46 , wherein the quantity of electric power that is transferred is controlled to regulate a rate of transfer of charge from the secondary resonant coil to the first electric storage device. 
     
     
         49 . The electric device charging system of  claim 46 , wherein the secondary resonant coil is configured using ferrite and movable physical elements to create directional electric and magnetic fields (EMF) to optimize the reception of the EMF based an allowable time for a transfer of electric power to occur from the primary resonant coil to the secondary resonant coil. 
     
     
         50 . The electric device charging system of  claim 46 , wherein the electric device charging system is an electric vehicle charging system. 
     
     
         51 . The electric device charging system of  claim 50 , wherein the software, when executed by the processor, further causes the PMS to:
 wirelessly communicate control information to a charging station PMS that is associated with the primary resonant coil.   
     
     
         52 . The electric device charging system of  claim 50 , wherein the software, when executed by the processor, further causes the PMS to:
 discharge into a load a first electric power from the first electrical storage device; and   control a transfer of a second electric power from the second electrical storage device to the first electrical storage device;   wherein respective quantities of the first electric power and the second electric power are determined based upon a present loading requirement associated with the load and respective characteristics of and current charge levels in at least one of the first electrical storage device and the second electrical storage device.   
     
     
         53 . The electric device charging system of  claim 52 , wherein the load includes an electric motor. 
     
     
         54 . The electric device charging system of  claim 52 , wherein power source includes a solar panel. 
     
     
         55 . The electric device charging system of  claim 52 , wherein power source includes a regenerative breaking power source. 
     
     
         56 . The electric device charging system of  claim 52 , wherein the secondary resonant coil is configured using ferrite and movable physical elements to create directional electric and magnetic fields (EMF) to optimize the reception of the EMF based upon a distance and a direction between the primary and secondary resonant coils at the time of transfer. 
     
     
         57 . An electric device charging system, comprising:
 a coupling to a power source which provides electric power;   a first electrical storage device which includes a member of the group consisting of a super capacitor (SC) and a high speed charging battery (HSCB);   a second electrical storage device which includes a member of the group consisting of a second high speed charging battery (HSCB) and a slow speed charging battery (SSCB);   a power management system (PMS) which includes a processor and software, wherein the software, when executed by the processor, causes the PMS to:
 control a power transfer from the first electrical storage device to the second electrical storage device; 
   wherein the power transfers is controlled to cause a larger amount of power to be transferred in a fixed amount of time from the power source to electric charge stored on the second electrical storage device than would be possible by transferring the electric power directly from the power source to the second electrical storage device, to thereby increase the amount of electric charge that can be added to the second electrical storage device in the fixed amount of time.   
     
     
         58 . The electric device charging system of  claim 57 , wherein the PMS controls the power transfer to manage a charging cycle of the second electrical storage device. 
     
     
         59 . The electric device charging system of  claim 58 , wherein the PMS manages the charging cycle to maximize a rate of charging of the second electrical storage device. 
     
     
         60 . The electric device charging system of  claim 57 , wherein the power transfer is controlled based upon at least one charge level associated with the second electrical storage device. 
     
     
         61 . The electric device charging system of  claim 57 , wherein the power transfer is controlled based upon at least one charge transfer rate associated with the second electrical storage device. 
     
     
         62 . The electric device charging system of  claim 57 , wherein the power transfer is controlled to regulate a rate of transfer of charge from the first electrical storage device to the second electrical storage device. 
     
     
         63 . The electric device charging system of  claim 57 , wherein the PMS further controls a second power transfer via the coupling to the first electrical storage device. 
     
     
         64 . The electric device charging system of  claim 57 , wherein the software, when executed by the processor, further causes the PMS to:
 discharge into a load a first electric power from the first electrical storage device; and   control a transfer of a second electric power from the second electrical storage device to the first electrical storage device;   wherein respective quantities of the first electric power and the second electric power are determined based upon a present loading requirement associated with the load and respective characteristics of and current charge levels in at least one of the first electrical storage device and the second electrical storage device.   
     
     
         65 . The electric device charging system of  claim 64 , wherein the PMS controls the transfer of the second electric power based upon at least one characteristic of the second electrical storage device and a charge stored on the second electrical storage device to reduce the number of discharge cycles needed by the second electrical storage device to thereby extend the usable life of the second electrical storage device. 
     
     
         66 . The electric device charging system of  claim 64 , wherein power source comprises a solar panel. 
     
     
         67 . The electric device charging system of  claim 64 , wherein power source comprises a wind power turbine. 
     
     
         68 . The electric device charging system of  claim 57 , wherein the software, when executed by the processor, further causes the PMS to discharge electric power into an electrical grid from the first electrical storage device;
 wherein respective quantity of the electric power is determined based upon a present loading requirement associated with the load and respective characteristics of and current charge levels in at least one of the first electrical storage device and the second electrical storage device.   
     
     
         69 . The electric device charging system of  claim 68 , wherein the electric power transferred to the electric grid is sold for economic compensation. 
     
     
         70 . The electric device charging system of  claim 57 , wherein the first electrical storage device includes the SC and the second electrical storage device includes the second HSCB. 
     
     
         71 . The electric device charging system of  claim 57 , wherein the first electrical storage device includes the SC and the second electrical storage device includes the SSCB. 
     
     
         72 . The electric device charging system of  claim 57 , wherein the first electrical storage device includes the HSCB and the second electrical storage device includes the SSCB. 
     
     
         73 . The electric device charging system of  claim 57 , wherein the second electrical storage device includes both the second HSCB and the SSCB, and wherein the software, when executed by the processor, further causes the PMS to:
 control a second power transfer from the second HSCB to the SSCB;   wherein the PMS controls the second power transfer based upon at least one characteristic of the SSCB and a charge stored on the SSCB to reduce the number of charge and discharge cycles needed by the SSCB to thereby extend the usable life of the SSCB.   
     
     
         74 . The electric device charging system of  claim 73 , wherein the power transfer and the second power transfer are controlled to cause a larger amount of electric charge to be transferred in a fixed amount of time from the power source to the SSCB than would be possible by transferring the electric power directly from the power source to the SSCB. 
     
     
         75 . The electric device charging system of  claim 73 , wherein the second power transfer is controlled to regulate a rate of transfer of charge from the second HSCB to the SSCB. 
     
     
         76 . The electric device charging system of  claim 73 , wherein the software, when executed by the processor, further causes the PMS to:
 discharge into a load a first electric power from the first electrical storage device; and   control a transfer of a second electric power from the second HSCB to the first electrical storage device;   control a transfer of a third electric power from the SSCB to the second HSCB;   wherein the respective quantities of the first electric power, the second electric power and the third electric power are determined based upon a present loading requirement associated with the load and respective characteristics of and current charge levels in the first electric storage device, the second HSCB and the SSCB.   
     
     
         77 . The electric device charging system of  claim 57 , wherein the software, when executed by the processor, further causes the PMS to:
 perform measurement and dynamic tuning of a parameter associated with the second power transfer.   
     
     
         78 . The electric device charging system of  claim 77 , wherein the parameter corresponds to an electric voltage. 
     
     
         79 . The electric device charging system of  claim 77 , wherein the parameter corresponds to amperage of electric current. 
     
     
         80 . The electric device charging system of  claim 77 , wherein the parameter corresponds to a cycle rate. 
     
     
         81 . The electric device charging system of  claim 57 , wherein the source of power comprises a primary resonant coil and the coupling includes a secondary resonant coil which is tuned to have a resonant frequency that is substantially the same as a resonant frequency of a primary resonant coil, wherein the primary resonant coil is operatively connected to a source of electric power and the secondary resonant coil is coupled via a wireless coupling to receive the electric power from the primary resonant coil. 
     
     
         82 . The electric device charging system of  claim 81 , wherein the quantity of electric power that is transferred is controlled based at least partially upon a distance between the primary resonant coil and the secondary resonant coil. 
     
     
         83 . The electric device charging system of  claim 81 , wherein the quantity of electric power that is transferred is controlled to regulate a rate of transfer of charge from the secondary resonant coil to the first electric storage device. 
     
     
         84 . The electric device charging system of  claim 81 , wherein the secondary resonant coil is configured using ferrite and movable physical elements to create directional electric and magnetic fields (EMF) to optimize the reception of the EMF based an allowable time for a transfer of electric power to occur from the primary resonant coil to the secondary resonant coil. 
     
     
         85 . The electric device charging system of  claim 81 , wherein the electric device charging system is an electric vehicle charging system. 
     
     
         86 . The electric device charging system of  claim 85 , wherein the software, when executed by the processor, further causes the PMS to:
 wirelessly communicate control information to a charging station PMS that is associated with the primary resonant coil.   
     
     
         87 . The electric device charging system of  claim 85 , wherein the software, when executed by the processor, further causes the PMS to:
 discharge into a load a first electric power from the first electrical storage device; and   control a transfer of a second electric power from the second electrical storage device to the first electrical storage device;   wherein respective quantities of the first electric power and the second electric power are determined based upon a present loading requirement associated with the load and respective characteristics of and current charge levels in at least one of the first electrical storage device and the second electrical storage device.   
     
     
         88 . The electric device charging system of  claim 87 , wherein the load includes an electric motor. 
     
     
         89 . The electric device charging system of  claim 87 , wherein the power source includes a solar panel. 
     
     
         90 . The electric device charging system of  claim 87 , wherein the power source includes a regenerative breaking power source. 
     
     
         91 . The electric device charging system of  claim 87 , wherein the secondary resonant coil is configured using ferrite and movable physical elements to create directional electric and magnetic fields (EMF) to optimize the reception of the EMF based upon a distance and a direction between the primary and secondary resonant coils at the time of transfer.