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US 9,853,499 B2Granted
Wireless power harvesting along multiple paths in a reverberent cavity
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJason P. Bommer, Arun Ayyagari
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus comprises a structure including a cavity that, when excited with electromagnetic energy, produces an electric field having randomized distribution of field amplitude and polarity. The apparatus further comprises a sensor within the cavity. The sensor has a plurality of antennas for wirelessly harvesting operating power along different paths within the cavity.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising a fuel tank that reflects electromagnetic energy therein;
- an excitation source including a radiating element configured to provide excitation at a predetermined frequency band within the fuel tank, the excitation source and the fuel tank configured to excite the fuel tank to behave as a reverberant cavity within the fuel tank and create within the fuel tank an electric field having a randomized distribution of field amplitude and polarity;
- and a fuel tank sensor mounted within the fuel tank, the sensor having a plurality of antennas for wirelessly harvesting energy along different paths within the tank, at least one of the plurality of antennas tuned to the predetermined frequency band of the radiating element.
An aircraft comprising a fuel tank contained within a wing box, the fuel tank reflecting electromagnetic energy therein;
- an excitation source for producing an electric field in the fuel tank, the excitation source including a radiating element configured to provide excitation at a predetermined frequency band within the fuel tank, the excitation source and the fuel tank configured to excite the fuel tank to behave as a reverberant cavity within the fuel tank;
- and a plurality of fuel tank sensors within the fuel tank, at least some of the fuel tank sensors having a plurality of antennas for wirelessly harvesting operational power incident from multiple directions and orientations within the tank, at least one of the plurality of antennas tuned to the predetermined frequency band of the radiating element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.