Power aperture linearization
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorEdward H. ALLEN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Antennas systems are disclosed providing for the use of heat harvesters such as thermophotovoltaic cell materials for converting waste heat from antenna transmitters into useful electricity. A further aspect of the present disclosure provides for transmitters that include high-temperature solid-state power amplifiers for operation at relatively high temperatures, reducing or eliminating the need for thermal heat spreaders or heat sinks. Quantum-effect thermophotovoltaic cells, including quantum-dot based thermophotovoltaic cells are described. Field-coupling is described to extract energy from a quantum-dot based TPV. Novel solar cells are also disclosed.
Claims34
An antenna system comprising:
- a transmit module configured to transmit RF energy of a selected frequency bandwidth;
- and
- a heat harvester including a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) material configured to receive waste heat from the transmit module and convert the waste heat to electricity.
An array antenna system comprising:
- a plurality of radiators configured to transmit RF energy of a selected frequency bandwidth;
- a transmit module configured to provide RF energy of a selected frequency bandwidth to the plurality of radiators;
- a receive module including a cooling unit and configured to receive RF radiation of a selected frequency bandwidth from the plurality of radiators, wherein the cooling unit is configured to cool the receive module;
- and
- a heat harvester including a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) material configured to (i) receive waste heat form the transmit module and convert the waste heat to electricity, and (ii) provide the resulting electricity to the cooling unit.
A solar cell comprising:
- a photodiode configured to (i) receive infrared radiation of a selected frequency bandwidth and convert the infrared radiation to electricity, and (ii) transmit RF energy of a selected frequency bandwidth;
- and
- a RF reflector as a resonant cavity and configured to reflect RF energy from the photodiode, wherein the RF reflector is transparent to infrared radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.