# US 9,882,436 B2 · Return coupled wireless power transmission > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,882,436 B2 - Document ID: US9882436B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/848,494 - Filed: 2015-09-09 - Published: 2017-03-09 - Granted: 2018-01-30 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-09 - Assignees: CPG Technologies, LLC - Applicants: CPG Technologies, LLC - Inventors: James F. Corum; Kenneth L. Corum - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9882436B2 ## CPC - H02J 50/20: using microwaves or radio frequency waves - H04B 3/52: Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract Aspects of return coupled wireless power transmission systems are described. In one embodiment, a system includes a guided surface waveguide probe including a charge terminal elevated at a height over a lossy conducting medium, a ground stake, and a feed network. The system further includes a conductor coupled to the ground stake that extends a distance away from the guided surface waveguide probe across the lossy conducting medium, and at least one guided surface wave receivers including a ground connection coupled to the conductor. The conductor can help to provide additional efficiency in power transfer between the guided surface waveguide probe and the guided surface wave receivers, especially when the operating frequency of the probe is in the medium, high, or very high frequency ranges. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: an excitation source; a guided surface waveguide probe including a charge terminal elevated at a height over a lossy conducting medium, a ground stake, and a feed network, the feed network being coupled between the ground stake, the excitation source, and the charge terminal; and a conductor that extends a distance from the ground stake radially away from the guided surface waveguide probe across the lossy conducting medium. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of guided surface wave receivers, at least one of the plurality of guided surface wave receivers including a ground connection coupled to the conductor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the conductor includes a first length of conductor that extends the distance radially away from the guided surface waveguide probe and a second length of conductor that extends, at a distance at least equal to or greater than a Hankel crossover distance away from the guided surface waveguide probe, at least in part laterally around the guided surface waveguide probe. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein: the conductor includes a first length of conductor that extends the distance radially away from the guided surface waveguide probe and a network of additional conductors that span an area across the lossy conducting medium; and the distance that the first length of conductor extends is greater than a Hankel crossover distance of the guided surface waveguide probe. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the conductor extends at least a portion of the distance within the lossy conducting medium. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising an interface between the lossy conducting medium and a second medium, wherein the conductor extends the distance substantially along the interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising an interface between the lossy conducting medium and a second medium, wherein the conductor extends at least a portion of the distance within the second medium. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising: a second conductor coupled to the ground stake that extends a second distance radially away from the guided surface waveguide probe across the lossy conducting medium; and a plurality of guided surface wave receivers, at least one of the plurality of guided surface wave receivers including a ground connection coupled to the conductor and at least another one of the plurality of guided surface wave receivers including a ground connection coupled to the second conductor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the guided surface waveguide probe is configured to generate at least one resultant field that synthesizes a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle of incidence of the lossy conducting medium. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the feed network is configured to provide a phase delay that matches a wave tilt angle associated with a complex Brewster angle of incidence associated with the lossy conducting medium in a vicinity of the guided surface waveguide probe. ### Claim 11 An system, comprising: an excitation source; a guided surface waveguide probe including a charge terminal elevated at a height over a lossy conducting medium and a ground stake electrically coupled to the charge terminal and in contact with the lossy conducting medium; a conductor that extends a distance from the ground stake away from the guided surface waveguide probe along the lossy conducting medium; and at least one guided surface wave receiver including a ground connection proximate to the conductor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein the conductor includes a first length of conductor that extends the distance away from the guided surface waveguide probe and a network of additional conductors electrically coupled to the first length of conductor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12, wherein the network of additional conductors is electrically coupled to the first length of conductor and extends, at a distance at least equal to or greater than a Hankel crossover distance away from the guided surface waveguide probe, over an area. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, further comprising an interface between the lossy conducting medium and a second medium, wherein the conductor extends the distance substantially along the interface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein the conductor extends at least a portion of the distance within the lossy conducting medium. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, further comprising an interface between the lossy conducting medium and a second medium, wherein the conductor extends at least a portion of the distance within the second medium. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system according to claim 16, further comprising: a second conductor coupled to the ground stake that extends a second distance away from the guided surface waveguide probe across the lossy conducting medium; and at least one other guided surface wave receiver, the at least one other guided surface wave receiver including a ground connection coupled to the second conductor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein: the guided surface waveguide probe further includes a feed network coupled between the ground stake, the excitation source, and the charge terminal; and the feed network is configured to provide a phase delay that matches a wave tilt angle associated with a complex Brewster angle of incidence associated with the lossy conducting medium in the vicinity of the guided surface waveguide probe. ### Claim 19 An system, comprising: an excitation source; a guided surface waveguide probe including a charge terminal elevated at a height over a lossy conducting medium and a ground stake electrically coupled to the charge terminal and in contact with the lossy conducting medium; a first conductor that extends away from the guided surface waveguide probe; a network of additional conductors electrically coupled to the first conductor; and a plurality of guided surface wave receivers, at least one of the plurality of guided surface wave receivers including a ground connection coupled to the network of additional conductors. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system according to claim 19, wherein the network of additional conductors is electrically coupled to the first conductor and extends, at a distance at least equal to or greater than a Hankel crossover distance away from the guided surface waveguide probe, over an area.