System for optical wireless power supply

Abstract

A system incorporating safety features, for optical power transmission to receivers, comprising an optical resonator having end reflectors and a gain medium, a driver supplying power to the gain medium, and controlling its small signal gain, a beam steering apparatus and a controller to control at least the beam steering apparatus and the driver. The controller responds to a safety risk occurring in the system, by outputting a command to change at least some of the small signal gain of the gain medium, the radiance of the optical beam, the power supplied by the driver, the scan speed or the scan direction and position of the beam steering apparatus, or to register the scan pose which defines the location of said optical-to-electrical power converter. The controller may also ensure a high overall radiance efficiency, and may warn of transmitted power not received by a targeted receiver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 : A system for optical wireless power transmission from a laser power transmitter to at least one remotely located power receiving apparatus configured to convert said optical power transmission to electrical power, said system comprising:
 a beam steering apparatus associated with said transmitter;   at least one beam characteristic analyzer configured to detect at least one of optical power level and beam shape of a beam propagating between said laser power transmitter and a power receiving apparatus;   wherein said detection by said at least one beam characteristic analyzer indicates at least one of (i) partial blocking of said beam, (ii) impingement of said beam on transparent objects and (iii) full blocking of said beam; and   a safety system adapted to receive feedback from said at least one beam characteristic analyzer, said safety system adapted to generate a notification correlated to potential for a safety hazard;   wherein if said safety system generates a notification of a safety hazard, said safety system is adapted to perform at least one of:
 (i) changing the small signal gain of a laser gain medium in said transmitter 
 (ii) changing the scan speed of said beam steering apparatus 
 (iii) changing the scan position of said beam steering apparatus 
 (iv) recording a scan position defining the position of said power receiving apparatus. 
   
     
     
         2 : The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one beam characteristic analyzer is further configured to detect at least one of (i) the symmetry of said beam, (ii) the polarization of said beam, (iii) the coherence of said beam, (iv) the divergence of said beam, (vi) the frequency of said beam and (vii) the M2 parameter of said beam. 
     
     
         3 : The system according to  claim 1  wherein said safety system is further adapted to receive feedback from at least one temperature sensor, said at least one temperature sensor detecting at least one of (i) the temperature of said transmitter, (ii) the temperature of said power receiving apparatus, (iiii) the temperature of at least one pre-determined component of said laser power transmitter and (iv) the temperature of the surrounding area in which said system is situated. 
     
     
         4 : The system according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one beam characteristic analyzer is further configured to analyze said beam at more than one position along said beam. 
     
     
         5 : The system according to  claim 1  wherein said safety system is further adapted to receive feedback from at least one sensor, wherein said at least one sensor is configured to detect at least one of (i) smoke in said beam's surrounding, (ii) humidity of said beam's surrounding and (iii) current of said laser power transmitter. 
     
     
         6 : The system according to  claim 1  wherein said safety system is further adapted to receive feedback from at least one intrusion sensor, said at least one intrusion sensor detecting at least one of (i) a foreign object traversing said beam and (ii) a foreign object approaching said beam. 
     
     
         7 : The system according to  claim 1  wherein said safety system is further adapted to receive feedback from at least one intrusion sensor, said at least one intrusion sensor detecting at least one of (i) partial blocking of said beam, (ii) impingement of said beam on transparent objects and (iii) full blocking of said beam. 
     
     
         8 : The system according to  claim 1  wherein said laser power transmitter is connected to a laser protector, said laser protector being configured to protect said laser power transmitter from excessive negative voltage. 
     
     
         9 : The system according to  claim 1  wherein said safety system is further adapted to assess said potential for a safety hazard at at least one pre-scheduled time. 
     
     
         10 : The system according to  claim 1  wherein said laser power transmitter is configured to receive said recorded scan position defining the position of said power receiving apparatus.