Node power extraction in a waveguide system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11575277-B2
Application number	US-202017063001-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2020
Priority date	Oct 5, 2020
Publication date	Feb 7, 2023
Grant date	Feb 7, 2023

Abstract

A system of a machine includes a network of a plurality of nodes distributed throughout the machine, a controller, and a power extraction system within at least one of the nodes. Each of the nodes is operable to communicate through one or more radio frequencies. The controller is configured to communicate with the network of nodes by transmitting the one or more radio frequencies through one or more waveguides. The power extraction system is configured to extract power from the one or more radio frequencies as a first power source, extract power from a second power source, and provide power to one or more components of the system based on power extracted from either or both of the first power source and the second power source.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system of a machine, the system comprising:
a network of a plurality of nodes distributed throughout the machine, each of the nodes operable to communicate through one or more radio frequencies;
a controller configured to communicate with the network of nodes by transmitting the one or more radio frequencies through one or more waveguides; and
a power extraction system within at least one of the nodes, the power extraction system comprising a harvester configured to extract power from the one or more radio frequencies as a first power source, extract power from a second power source, and provide power to one or more components of the system based on power extracted from either or both of the first power source and the second power source, wherein the harvester comprises:
a radio frequency rectifier configured to perform power extraction from the one or more radio frequencies and from wireless power received from one or more of the nodes;
a power manager configured to control power distribution to the one or more components of the system; and
a power transfer unit configured to transfer wireless power to one or more of the nodes of the network.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power extraction system comprises:
a diplexer configured to separate a power transmission frequency from a communication transmission frequency of the one or more radio frequencies; and
wherein the harvester is configured to extract power from the power transmission frequency as the first power source.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power extraction system comprises:
a circulator configured to pass a combined power and communication transmission frequency from the one or more radio frequencies to the harvester.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the harvester further comprises an environmental energy harvester configured to extract energy from an environment proximate to the power extraction system.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a radio/sensor interface configured to communicate with one or more actuators, one or more sensors, or a combination thereof.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the radio/sensor interface is configured to transmit communications through the one or more waveguides.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the harvester is configured to rectify and condition power received in a power transmission for use by the radio/sensor interface.

8. A system for a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:
a network of a plurality of nodes distributed throughout the gas turbine engine, each of the nodes associated with at least one sensor and/or actuator of the gas turbine engine and operable to communicate through one or more radio frequencies;
a controller of the gas turbine engine configured to communicate with the network of nodes by transmitting the one or more radio frequencies through one or more waveguides; and
a power extraction system within at least one of the nodes, the power extraction system comprising a harvester configured to extract power from the one or more radio frequencies as a first power source, extract power from a second power source, and provide power to one or more components of the system based on power extracted from either or both of the first power source and the second power source, wherein the harvester comprises:
a radio frequency rectifier configured to perform power extraction from the one or more radio frequencies and from wireless power received from one or more of the nodes;
a power manager configured to control power distribution to the one or more components of the system; and
a power transfer unit configured to transfer wireless power to one or more of the nodes of the network.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the power extraction system comprises:
a diplexer configured to separate a power transmission frequency from a communication transmission frequency of the one or more radio frequencies; and
wherein the harvester is configured to extract power from the power transmission frequency as the first power source.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the power extraction system comprises:
a circulator configured to pass a combined power and communication transmission frequency from the one or more radio frequencies to the harvester.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the harvester further comprises an environmental energy harvester configured to extract energy from an environment proximate to the power extraction system.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the harvester further comprises a reservoir configured to store power, and wherein the power manager is configured to provide power to communicate with the controller and to power the at least one sensor and/or actuator of the gas turbine engine based on power selected from at least one of the first power source, the second power source, and the reservoir.

13. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a radio/sensor interface configured to communicate with one or more actuators, one or more sensors, or a combination thereof.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the radio/sensor interface is configured to transmit communications through the one or more waveguides.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the harvester is configured to rectify and condition power received in a power transmission for use by the radio/sensor interface.

16. A method of powering a node in a waveguide system of a machine, the method comprising:
receiving one or more radio frequency signals at the node of a network including a plurality of nodes configured to communicate through one or more waveguides in the machine;
extracting power by a harvester at the node from the one or more radio frequency signals as a first power source;
extracting power by the harvester at the node from a second power source; and
providing power from the node to one or more components configured to communicate with the node based on power extracted from either or both of the first power source and the second power source, wherein the harvester comprises a radio frequency rectifier configured to perform power extraction from the one or more radio frequencies and from wireless power received from one or more of the nodes, a power manager configured to control power distribution to the one or more components of the system, and a power transfer unit configured to transfer wireless power to one or more of the nodes of the network.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
separating a power transmission frequency from a communication transmission frequency of the one or more radio frequencies; and
wherein the harvester is configured to extracting power from the power transmission frequency as the first power source.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
passing a combined power and communication transmission frequency of the one or more radio frequencies from a circulator to the harvester.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
extracting energy from an environment proximate to the power extraction system.

Assignees

• Raytheon Tech Corp

Inventors

• Gilson Jonathan
• Mantese Joseph V
• Gok Gurkan
• Djuknic Goran
• Wood Coy Bruce

Classifications

• H02J2105/32

  for aircrafts · CPC title

• F05D2260/80

  Diagnostics · CPC title

• F02C7/36

  Power transmission arrangements between the different shafts of the gas turbine plant, or between the gas-turbine plant and the power user ({F02C3/107 - F02C3/13 and} F02C7/32 take precedence; couplings for transmitting rotation F16D; gearing in general F16H) · CPC title

• H02J50/20

  using microwaves or radio frequency waves · CPC title

• H02J50/001 Primary

  Energy harvesting or scavenging · CPC title