System for Converting
Electromagnetic Radiation Energy to Electrical Energy
Nachamkin; Jack
Appl. No.: 281271
Current U.S. Class: 363/8; 342/6; 363/178
Source: US Patent Office
United States Patent 5,590,031
December 31, 1996
Abstract:
A system is disclosed for converting high frequency zero
point electromagnetic radiation energy to electrical energy. The
system includes a pair of dielectric structures which are positioned
proximal to each other and which receive incident zero point
electromagnetic radiation. The volumetric sizes of the structures are
selected so that they resonate at a frequency of the incident
radiation. The volumetric
sizes of the structures are also slightly different so that the
secondary radiation emitted therefrom at resonance interfere with each
other producing a beat frequency radiation which is at a much lower
frequency than that of the incident radiation and which is amenable to
conversion to electrical energy. An antenna receives the beat
frequency radiation. The beat frequency radiation from the antenna is
transmitted to a converter via a conductor or waveguide and converted
to electrical energy having a desired voltage and waveform.
Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wong; Peter S.
Claims
What is claimed is:
A system for converting incident electromagnetic
radiation energy to electrical energy, comprising:
* a first means for receiving incident primary
electromagnetic radiation, said means for receiving producing emitted
secondary electromagnetic radiation at a first frequency, said first
means for receiving having a first volumetric size selected to
resonate at a frequency within the frequency spectrum of the incident
primary electromagnetic radiation in order to produce the secondary
electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency at an enhanced energy
density;
* a second means for receiving the incident primary
electromagnetic radiation, said means for receiving producing emitted
secondary electromagnetic radiation at a second frequency, the
secondary radiation at the first frequency and the secondary radiation
at the second frequency interfering to produce secondary radiation at
a lower frequency than that of the incident primary radiation, said
second means for receiving having a second volumetric size selected to
resonate at a frequency within the frequency spectrum of the incident
primary electromagnetic radiation in order to produce the emitted
secondary electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency at an
enhanced energy density;
* an antenna for receiving the emitted secondary
electromagnetic radiation at the lower frequency, said antenna
providing an electrical output responsive to the secondary
electromagnetic radiation received;
* a converter electrically connected to said antenna for
receiving electrical current output from said antenna and converting
the electrical current output to electrical current having a desired
voltage and waveform.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein:
* said first means for receiving is composed of a
dielectric material; and
*said second means for receiving is composed of a
dielectric material.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein:
* said first means for receiving is spherical; and
* said second means for receiving is spherical.
4. A system for for converting incident zero point
electromagnetic radiation energy to electrical energy, comprising:
* a first means for receiving incident primary zero
point electromagnetic radiation, said means for receiving producing
emitted secondary electromagnetic radiation at a first frequency;
* a second means for receiving the incident primary zero
point electromagnetic radiation, said means for receiving producing
emitted secondary electromagnetic radiation at a second frequency, the
secondary radiation at the first frequency and the secondary radiation
at the second frequency interfering to produce secondary radiation at
a beat frequency which is lower than that of the incident primary
radiation;
* an antenna for receiving the emitted secondary
electromagnetic radiation at the lower frequency, said antenna
providing an electrical output responsive to the secondary
electromagnetic radiation received;
* means for transmitting the emitted secondary
electromagnetic radiation at the beat frequency from said antenna,
said means for transmitting connected to said antenna;
* a converter connected to said means for transmitting
for receiving the emitted secondary electromagnetic radiation at the
beat frequency from said antenna and converting the same to electrical
current having a desired voltage and waveform.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein:
* said first means for receiving has a first volumetric
spherical size selected to resonate in response to the incident
primary electromagnetic radiation in order to produce the secondary
electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency at an enhanced energy
density; and
* said second means for receiving has a second
volumetric spherical size selected to resonate in response to the
incident primary electromagnetic radiation in order to produce the
emitted secondary electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency at
an enhanced energy density, said first and second volumetric sizes
selected based on parameters of propagation constant of said first and
second means for receiving, propagation constant of medium in which
said first and
second means for receiving are located and frequency of the incident
primary electromagnetic radiation.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the first and second
volumetric sizes are selected by utilizing the formulas: ##EQU8##
wherein at a resonance, the denominator of either equation for
a.sub.n.sup.t or b.sub.n.sup.t will be approximately zero and wherein
k.sub.1 =propagation constant of the means for receiving, k.sub.2
=propagation constant of medium through which the incident
electromagnetic radiation propagates, a is the radius of either means
for receiving, N=k.sub.1 /k.sub.2, .rho.=k.sub.2 a, k.sub.1 a=N.rho.,
a.sub.n.sup.t=magnitude of oscillations of the electric field of the
nth order, b.sub.n.sup.t =magnitude of oscillations of the magnetic
field of the nth order, .omega.=angular frequency of the incident
electromagnetic radiation, .epsilon. is the permittivity of the
material or medium and .mu. is the permeability of the material or
medium.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the radius of the first
means for receiving is different from the radius of the second means
for receiving, difference between the radius of said first means for
receiving and the radius of said second means for receiving selected
so that the beat frequency resulting from the difference is a
frequency which facilitates conversion of the beat frequency
electromagnetic radiation to electrical energy.
8. The system of claim 4 wherein:
* said first means for receiving is composed of a
dielectric material; and
* said second means for receiving is composed of a
dielectric material.
9. The system of claim 4 wherein:
* said first means for receiving is spherical; and
* said second means for receiving is spherical.
10. The system of claim 4 wherein said antenna is
positioned generally between said first and second means for
receiving.
11. The system of claim 4 wherein said antenna is a loop
antenna.
12. The system of claim 4 wherein said antenna is a
generally concave shell partially enclosing said first and second
means for receiving.
13. The system of claim 4 wherein said means for
transmitting is a waveguide.
14. A system for for converting incident zero point
electromagnetic radiation energy to electrical energy, comprising:
* a substrate;
* a plurality of pairs of first means for receiving
incident primary zero point electromagnetic radiation and second means
for receiving incident primary zero point electromagnetic radiation,
said plurality of pairs of means for receiving mounted on said
substrate, said first means for receiving producing emitted secondary
electromagnetic radiation at a first frequency, said second means for
receiving the incident primary zero point electromagnetic radiation
producing emitted secondary electromagnetic radiation at a second
frequency, the secondary radiation at the first frequency and the
secondary radiation at the second frequency interfering to produce
secondary radiation at a beat frequency which is lower than that of
the incident primary radiation, said first means for receiving having
a first volumetric size selected to resonate in response to the
incident primary electromagnetic radiation in order to produce the
secondary electromagnetic radiation at the first frequency at an
enhanced energy density, and said second means for receiving having a
second volumetric size selected to resonate in response to the
incident primary electromagnetic radiation in order to produce the
emitted secondary electromagnetic radiation at the second frequency at
an
enhanced energy density, said first and second volumetric sizes
selected based on parameters of propagation constant of said first and
second means for receiving, propagation constant of medium in which
said first and second means for receiving are located and frequency of
the incident primary electromagnetic radiation, said first and second
volumetric sizes being different from each other;
* a plurality of antennas for receiving the emitted
secondary electromagnetic radiation at the lower frequency, said
antenna providing an output responsive to the secondary
electromagnetic radiation received, said plurality of antennas mounted
on said substrate, each of said plurality of antennas receiving the
emitted secondary electromagnetic radiation of one of said pairs of
first and second means for receiving;
* means for transmitting the emitted secondary
electromagnetic radiation at the beat frequency from said antenna,
said means for transmitting connected to said plurality of antennas;
* a converter connected to said means for transmitting
for receiving the emitted secondary electromagnetic radiation at the
beat frequency from said antenna and converting the same to electrical
current having a desired voltage and waveform.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to conversion of
electromagnetic radiation energy to electrical energy, and, more
particularly, to conversion of high frequency bandwidths of the
spectrum of a type of radiation known as zero point electromagnetic
radiation to electrical energy.
The existence of zero point electromagnetic radiation
was discovered in 1958 by the Dutch physicist M. J. Sparnaay. Mr.
Sparnaay continued the experiments carried out by Hendrik B. G.
Casimir in 1948 which showed the existence of a force between two
uncharged parallel plates which arose from electromagnetic radiation
surrounding the plates in a vacuum. Mr. Sparnaay discovered that the
forces acting on the plates
arose from not only thermal radiation but also from another type of
radiation now known as classical electromagnetic zero point radiation.
Mr. Sparnaay determined that not only did the zero point
electromagnetic radiation exist in a vacuum but also that it persisted
even at a temperature of absolute zero. Because it exists in a vacuum,
zero point radiation is homogeneous and isotropic as well as
ubiquitous. In addition, since zero point radiation is also invariant
with respect to Lorentz transformation, the zero point radiation
spectrum has the characteristic that the intensity of the radiation at
any frequency is proportional to the cube of that frequency.
Consequently, the intensity of the radiation increases without limit
as the frequency increases resulting in an infinite energy density for
the radiation spectrum. With the introduction of the zero point
radiation into the classical electron theory, a vacuum at a
temperature of absolute zero is no longer considered empty of all
electromagnetic fields. Instead, the vacuum is now considered as
filled with randomly fluctuating fields having the zero point
radiation spectrum. The special characteristics of the zero point
radiation which are that it has a virtually infinite energy density
and that it is ubiquitous (even present in outer space) make it very
desirable as an energy source. However, because high energy densities
exist at very high radiation frequencies and because conventional
methods are only able to convert or extract energy effectively or
efficiently only at lower frequencies at which zero point radiation
has relatively low energy densities, effectively tapping this energy
source has been believed to be unavailable using conventional
techniques for converting electromagnetic energy to electrical or
other forms of easily useable energy. Consequently, zero point
electromagnetic radiation energy which may potentially be used to
power interplanetary craft as well as provide for society's other
needs has remained unharnessed.
There are many types of prior art systems which use a
plurality of antennas to receive electromagnetic radiation and provide
an electrical output therefrom. An example of such a prior art system
is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,503 to Gamara. The Gamara system
has two antenna structures which work in tandem and which oscillate by
means of a motor operatively attached thereto in order to modulate the
radiation reflected from the antenna surfaces. The reflecting surfaces
of the antennas are also separated by a distance equal to a quarter
wavelength of the incident radiation. However, the Gamara system does
not convert the incident radiation to electrical current for the
purpose of converting the incident electromagnetic radiation to
another form of readily useable energy. In addition, the relatively
large size of the Gamara system components make it unable to resonate
at and modulate very high frequency radiation.
What is therefore needed is a system which is capable of
converting high frequency electromagnetic radiation energy into
another form of energy which can be more readily used to provide power
for transportation, heating, cooling as well as various other needs of
society. What is also needed is such a system which may be used to
provide energy from any location on earth or in space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
* It is a principle object of the present invention to
provide a system for converting electromagnetic radiation energy to
electrical energy.
* It is another object of the present invention to
provide a system for converting electromagnetic radiation energy
having a high frequency to electrical energy.
* It is another object of the present invention to
provide a system for converting zero point electromagnetic radiation
energy to electrical energy.
* It is another object of the present invention to
provide a system for converting electromagnetic radiation energy to
electrical energy which may used to provide such energy from any
desired location on earth or in space.
* It is another object of the present invention to
provide a system for converting electromagnetic radiation energy to
electrical energy having a desired waveform and voltage.
* It is an object of the present invention to provide a
miniaturized system for converting electromagnetic radiation energy to
electrical energy in order to enhance effective utilization of high
energy densities of the electromagnetic radiation.
* It is an object of the present invention to provide a
system for converting electromagnetic radiation energy to electrical
energy which is simple in construction for cost effectiveness and
reliability of operation.
Essentially, the system of the present invention
utilizes a pair of structures for receiving incident electromagnetic
radiation which may be propagating through a vacuum or any other
medium in which the receiving structures may be suitably located. The
system of the present invention is specifically designed to convert
the energy of zero point electromagnetic radiation; however, it may
also be used to
convert the energy of other types of electromagnetic radiation. The
receiving structures are preferably composed of dielectric material in
order to diffract and scatter the incident electromagnetic radiation.
In addition, the receiving structures are of a volumetric size
selected to enable the structures to resonate at a high frequency of
the incident electromagnetic radiation based on the parameters of
frequency of the incident radiation and propagation characteristics of
the medium and of the receiving structures. Since zero point radiation
has the characteristic that its energy density increases as its
frequency increases, greater amounts of electromagnetic energy are
available at higher frequencies. Consequently, the size of the
structures are preferably miniaturized in order to produce greater
amounts of energy from a system located within a space or area of a
given size. In this regard, the smaller the size of the receiving
structures, the greater the amount of energy that can be produced by
the system of the present invention.
At resonance, electromagnetically induced material
deformations of the receiving structures produce secondary fields of
electromagnetic energy therefrom which may have evanescent energy
densities several times that of the incident radiation. The structures
are of different sizes so that the secondary fields arising therefrom
are of different frequencies. The difference in volumetric size is
very small so that interference between the two emitted radiation
fields, and the
receiving structures at the two different frequencies produces a beat
frequency radiation which has a much lower frequency than the incident
radiation. The beat frequency radiation preferably is at a frequency
which is sufficiently low that it may be relatively easily converted
to useable electrical energy. In contrast, the incident zero point
radiation has its desirable high energy densities at frequencies which
are so high that conventional systems for converting the radiation to
electrical energy either cannot effectively or efficiently so convert
the radiation energy or simply cannot be used to convert the radiation
energy for other reasons.
The system of the present invention also includes an
antenna which receives the beat frequency radiation. The antenna may
be a conventional metallic antenna such as a loop or dipole type of
antenna or a rf cavity structure which partially encloses the
receiving structures. The antenna feeds the radiation energy to an
electrical conductor (in the case of a conventional dipole or
comparable type of antenna) or to a waveguide (in the case of a rf
cavity structure). The conductor or waveguide feeds the electrical
current (in the case of the electrical conductor) or the
electromagnetic radiation (in the
case of the waveguide) to a converter which converts the received
energy to useful electrical energy. The converter preferably includes
a tuning circuit or comparable device so that it can effectively
receive the beat frequency radiation. The converter may include a
transformer to convert the energy to electrical current having a
desired voltage. In addition, the converter may also include a
rectifier to convert the energy to electrical current having a desired
waveform.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the receiving structures and
antenna of a first embodiment of the system of the present invention
with a schematic view of the conductor and converter thereof and also
showing the incident primary and emitted secondary electromagnetic
radiation.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the receiving structures,
antenna and waveguide of a second embodiment of the system of the
present invention with a schematic view of the converter thereof and
also showing the incident primary and emitted secondary
electromagnetic radiation.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the receiving
structures, antenna and waveguide of the second embodiment shown in
FIG. 2 with a schematic view of the converter thereof and also showing
the incident primary and emitted secondary electromagnetic radiation.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the substrate and a plurality
of pairs of the receiving structures and a plurality of antennas of a
third embodiment of the system of the present invention with a
schematic view of the conductor and converter thereof and also showing
the incident primary and emitted secondary electromagnetic radiation.
FIG. 5 is a top view of some of the components of the
third embodiment of the system of the present invention showing two of
the plurality of pairs of receiving structures and two of the
plurality of antennas mounted on the substrate.
FIG. 6 is a diagram of a receiving structure of the
system of the present invention showing an incident electromagnetic
plane wave impinging on the receiving structure and illustrating the
directions of the electric and magnetic field vectors thereof.
FIG. 7 is a diagram of a spherical coordinate system as
used in the formulas utilized in the system of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a graph showing an imaginary .rho. parameter
plotted against a real .rho. parameter illustrating the values thereof
at resonance as well as values thereof at other than resonance.
FIG. 9 is a graph showing a portion of the graphical
representation shown in FIG. 8 illustrating the real and imaginary
.rho. values at or near a single resonance.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, a first embodiment of the
present invention is generally designated by the numeral 10. The
system 10 includes a first and second means for receiving 12 and 14
incident electromagnetic radiation 16. The means for receiving 12 and
14 are preferably a pair of spherical structures 12 and 14 which are
preferably composed of a dielectric material. Alternatively, the
spheres 12 and 14 may be cubical structures or any other suitable
shape. The spheres 12 and 14 may be mounted on a suitable foundation
by any suitable mounting means (not shown), or spheres 12 and 14 may
be suspended from a suitable foundation by any suitable suspension
means (not shown). The spheres 12 and 14 are preferably composed of a
dielectric material. The dielectric spheres 12 and 14 scatter and
concentrate electromagnetic waves. At very sharpely defined
frequencies, the spheres 12 and 14 will have resonances wherein the
internal energy densities can be five orders of mangitude larger than
the energy density of the incident electromagnetic field driving the
spheres 12 and 14. At resonance, the electromagnetic stresses,
equivalent to pressures proportional to the energy density, can cause
material deformation of the spheres 12 and 14 which produce a
secondary electromagnetic field. The spheres 12 and 14 are preferably
positioned proximal to each other, as shown in FIG. 1. Although the
proximity of the spheres to each other will adversely affect the
resonances, the very high "Q"s of the isolated-sphere resonances
results in such adverse affect being relatively small. However, the
proximity of the spheres 12 and 14 allows the spheres to interact
electromechanically which increases the magnitude of the secondary
radiation emitted therefrom.
The electromagnetic radiation incident upon the spheres
12 and 14 which drives the spheres to resonance is preferably zero
point radiation 16. However, other types of electromagnetic radiation
may also be used to drive the spheres 12 and 14, if desired.
The effect of a dielectric sphere such as 12 or 14 on an
incident electromagnetic radiation such as a plane wave thereof is
shown in FIG. 6. The plane wave propagates in the z axis direction and
is diffracted by the sphere 12 resulting in scattering thereof. This
scattering is commonly known as Mie scattering. The incident radiation
wave has an electric vector component which is linearly polarized in
the x axis direction and a magnetic vector component which is linearly
polarized in the y axis direction.
An electromagnetic wave incident upon a structure
produces a forced oscillation of free and bound charges in synch with
the primary electromagnetic field of the incident electromagnetic
wave. The movements of the charges produce a secondary electromagnetic
field both inside and outside the structure. The secondary
electromagnetic radiation comprising this secondary electromagnetic
field is shown in FIG. 1 and designated by the numerals 18 and 20. An
antenna which is
shown simply as a loop antenna but may also be a dipole or any other
suitable type of antenna is also shown in FIG. 1 and designated by the
numeral 22. The nonlinear mutual interactions of the spheres produces
interference between the secondary electromagnetic radiation 18 and 20
produces a beat frequency radiation 24 which is preferably at a much
lower frequency than the primary radiation 16. It is this beat
frequency radiation 24 which is desired for conversion into electrical
energy because it preferably is within the frequency range of rf
radiation which may be converted into electrical energy by generally
conventional systems. Thus, the radiation 24 received by the antenna
22 is fed via an electrical conductor 26 to a means for converting the
beat frequency radiation 24 to electrical energy. This means for
converting is designated by the numeral 28 and preferably includes a
tuning capacitor 30 and a transformer 32 and a rectifier (preferably a
diode) 34. Instead of including the capacitor 30, transformer 32 and
rectifier 34, the converter 28 may alternatively include an rf
receiver of any suitable type.
The resultant field at any point is the vector sum of
the primary and secondary fields. For the equations that follow, the
structure receiving the incident plane wave is a sphere of radius a
having a propagation constant k.sub.1 positioned in an infinite,
homogeneous medium having a propagation constant k.sub.2. The incident
plane wave propagates in the z axis direction and is as shown in FIG.
6. The spherical coordinate system used for the vector spherical wave
functions is shown in FIG. 7. Expansion of the incident field
provides: ##EQU1##
where E is the electric field and H is the magnetic
field; and ##EQU2##
The electric and magnetic fields of the incident wave
transmitted into the sphere i.e., R
where H.sub.r represents the resultant wave in the
medium surrounding the sphere. At resonance, the values of .rho. at
resonance require that the a.sub.n.sup.t and b.sub.n.sup.t
coefficients be infinite. In order to determine these values of
a.sub.n.sup.t and b.sub.n.sup.t, the boundary conditions at the sphere
radius are needed. Since there must be continuity of the E and H
values at the surface, the following equations are used:
i.sub.1 .times.(E.sub.i +E.sub.r)=i.sub.1 .times.E.sub.t
and
i.sub.1 .times.(H.sub.i +H.sub.r)=i.sub.1 .times.H.sub.t
which lead to two pairs of inhomogeneous equations:
a.sub.n.sup.t j.sub.n (N.rho.)-a.sub.n.sup.r
h.sub.n.sup.(1)(.rho.)=j.sub.n (.rho.)
.mu..sub.2 a.sub.n.sup.t [N.rho.j.sub.n
(N.rho.)]'-.mu..sub.1 a.sub.n.sup.r [.rho.h.sub.n.sup.(1)
(.rho.)]'=.mu..sub.1 [.rho.j.sub.n (.rho.)]' and
.mu..sub.2 Nb.sub.n.sup.t j.sub.n (N.rho.)-.mu..sub.1
b.sub.n.sup.rh.sub.n.sup.(1) (.rho.)=.mu..sub.1 j.sub.n (.rho.)
b.sub.n.sup.t [N.rho.j.sub.n (N.rho.)]'-Nb.sub.n.sup.r
[.rho.h.sub.n.sup.(1) (.rho.)]'=N[.rho.j.sub.n (.rho.)]'
where k.sub.1 =Nk.sub.2, .rho.=k.sub.2 a, k.sub.1
a=N.rho.. Spherical Bessel functions of the first kind are denoted by
j.sub.n, while those of the third kind are denoted by h.sub.n.sup.(1).
The resulting equations are: ##EQU5##
At a resonance, the denominator of either a.sub.n.sup.t
or b.sub.n.sup.t will be zero. Thus, .rho. values are found using the
above equations that correspond to a resonant combination of angular
frequency (.omega.) and radius (a) for a given sphere material and
given surrounding medium. In determining such values of .rho., the
following equations are also specifically used: ##EQU6## where
.rho..sub.1 corresponds to the sphere material. An iterative method is
preferably used to find the desired values of .rho. at resonance. In
calculating .rho. utilizing the above equations for purposes of
example, it was assumed that .mu..sub.1 =.mu..sub.2 =.mu..sub.0
=4.pi..times.10.sup.-7 and .epsilon..sub.2 =.epsilon..sub.0
=8.85419.times.10.sup.-12.
One major root of .rho. which was found has a value of:
Real (.rho.)=+66.39752607619131
Imaginary (.rho.)=-0.6347867071968998.
These particular values are not shown in FIG. 8.
However, other values of .rho. found using the equations set forth
herein are shown in FIG. 8. The peaks in FIG. 8 are the resonances.
One of these resonances shown in FIG. 8 is shown in detail in FIG. 9.
These resonance values are shown for purposes of example. Other
resonances also exist which have not been determined; thus, not all
possible resonance values are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
Calculation of these values also allows the
determination of a possible am combination which would have these root
values. For .rho., .epsilon. (epsilon)=.epsilon..sub.0 and
.mu.=.mu..sub.0, and ##EQU7## Expressed in SI units, the speed of
light c=2.99792458.times.10.sup.14 m/s. If an a value of 10.sup.-6 m
is assumed for the examples shown
herein, then:
.omega.=.rho.c/a.apprxeq.1.9919.times.10.sup.16 -i1.9044.ti
mes.10.sup. 14 radians/s.
This is an example of the angular frequency required
within the impingent EM radiation in order to create a resonant
situation. Examples of other resonances were indicated, and these are
shown in FIG. 8. No complex-frequency plane waves exist. Therefore,
the calculations were made by considering only the real portion of the
above root and setting the imaginary portion equal to zero. However,
upon doing this, the iterative calculation procedure becomes
insensitive to any root in the vicinity of the root's real portion. In
the iterative calculation procedure, initially a range of .rho. values
is input into the equations. These .rho. values are in the
neighborhood of the prospective root. A range of .rho. values is
subsequently studied to find any imaginary .rho. i.e., f.rho. (a
function of .rho.), peaks in that range. Next, once a peak has been
chosen, the function order n giving the dominant f.rho. is determined.
This also gives a clue as to whether the peak is due to a magnetic
resonance (a.sub.n approaches infinity) or an electrical resonance
(b.sub.n approaches infinity). A large number of Newton-Raphson
iterations is preferably performed in order to converge upon a root
.rho. value.
FIGS. 2 and 3 show a second embodiment of the present
invention generally designated by the numeral 110. Embodiment 110 is
essentially the same as embodiment 10 except that the antenna is a rf
cavity structure 122 which feeds the received beat frequency radiation
124 to a waveguide 126. Embodiment 110 also preferably includes two
spheres 112 and 114 which receive the primary incident electromagnetic
radiation 116 and emit the secondary electromagnetic radiation 118 and
120. As with the spheres 18 and 20 of embodiment 10, spheres 118 and
120 are preferably composed of a dielectric material. Embodiment 110
also includes converter 128, capacitor 130, transformer 132 and
rectifier 134 which are essentially identical to the correspondingly
numbered elements of embodiment 10. Therefore, a description of these
components of embodiment 110 will not be repeated in order to promote
brevity. In addition, the same equations and method of calculation set
forth above with regard to embodiment 10 also apply to embodiment.
Therefore, their description will not be repeated in order to promote
brevity.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show a third embodiment of the present
invention generally designated by numeral 210. Embodiment 210 is
essentially identical to the first embodiment 10 except that the
embodiment 210 includes a plurality of pairs 215 of receiving means
(spheres) 212 and 214 mounted on a substrate 236. The spheres 212 and
214 are thus in the form of an array 238. The pairs 215 of the array
238 are preferably positioned proximal to each other in order to
maximize the
amount of energy extracted from a particular area or space of a given
size. Since, as set forth hereinabove, the energy density of the zero
point radiation increases as the frequency of the radiation increases,
it is desirable that the spheres resonate at as high a bandwidth of
frequencies as possible. Because the spheres 212 and 214 must be small
in direct proportion to the wavelength of the high frequencies of the
incident electromagnetic radiation 216 at which resonance is desirably
obtained, the spheres 212 and 214 are preferably microscopic in size.
Current lithographic techniques are capable of manufacturing such
microscopically small spheres mounted on a suitable substrate thereby
providing a suitably miniaturized system 210. A miniaturized system
enhances the energy output capability of the system by enabling it to
resonate at higher frequencies at which there are correspondingly
higher energy densities. Consequently, utilization of array 238 in the
system 210 enhances the maximum amount of electrical energy provided
by the system 210.
Lithographic techniques may be more amenable to
manufacturing microscopically small receiving structures 212 and 214
which may be disc shaped, semispherical or have another shape other
than as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Consequently, the receiving means 212
and 214 may accordingly have such alternative shapes rather than the
spherical shape shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In addition, a large number of
small spheres may be manufactured by bulk chemical reactions. Packing
a volume with such spheres in close proximity could enhance the output
of energy.
Embodiment 210 also includes a plurality of antennas 222
positioned preferably between the spheres 212 and 214 which receive
the beat frequency radiation 224 produced by the interference between
the secondary radiation 218 and 220. The antennas 222 are shown as
loop antennas 222 but may be any other suitable type of antennas as
well.
Embodiment 210 has a plurality of electrical conductors
226 which preferably include traces mounted on the substrate 236 which
occupies a finite volume. The electrical conductors 226 feed the
electrical output from the antennas 222 to a suitable converter 228
which preferably includes tuning capacitor 230, transformer 232 and
rectifier 234, as with embodiments 10 and 110. Except as set forth
above, the components of embodiment 210 are identical to embodiment 10
so the detailed description of these components will not be repeated
in order to promote brevity. In addition, the same equations and
method of calculation set forth above for embodiment 10 also apply to
embodiment 210. Therefore, the description of these equations and
method of calculation will not be repeated in order to promote
brevity.
Accordingly, there has been provided, in accordance with
the invention, a system which converts high frequency zero point
electromagnetic radiation into electrical energy effectively and
efficiently and thus fully satisfies the objectives set forth above.
It is to be understood that all terms used herein are descriptive
rather than limiting. Although the invention has been specifically
described with regard to the specific embodiments set forth herein,
many alternative embodiments, modifications and variations will be
apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the disclosure set
forth herein. Accordingly, it is intended to include all such
alternatives, embodiments, modifications and variations that fall
within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the
claims herein below.
Inventors: Mead, Jr.; Franklin B.
(44536 Avenida Del Sol, Lancaster, CA 93535);
(12314 Teri Dr., Poway, CA 92064)
Filed: July 27, 1994
Intern'l Class: H02M 001/00
Field of Search: 363/8,13,178 342/6,61,73,173,175
http://164.195.100.11/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PAL
L&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1='5590031'.WKU.&OS=PN/559
0031&RS=PN/5590031
Mead, Jr., et al.
3882503 - May., 1975 - Gamara 343/100.
4725847 - Feb., 1988 - Poirier 343/840.
5008677 - Apr., 1991 - Trigon et al. 342/17.
Assistant Examiner: Berhane; Adolf
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Papageorge; Chris