History of wireless power transmission

Journal Article · Tue Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1996 · Solar Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(95)00080-B· OSTI ID:414956

Brown, W C ^[1]

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1. Microwave Power Transmission Systems, Weston, MA (United States)

The history of wireless power transmission at microwave frequencies is reviewed with emphasis upon the time period starting with the post World War II efforts to use the new microwave technology developed during the war. A nationally televised demonstration of a microwave powered helicopter at the Spencer Laboratory of the Raytheon Co., in 1964 was the result of these early efforts and broadly introduced the concept of wireless power transmission to scientific and engineering communities and to the public. Subsequent development efforts centered on improving the efficiency of the interconversion of d.c. and microwave power at the ends of the system to reach a demonstrated overall d.c. to d.c. system efficiency of 54% in 1974. The response to the requirements of applications such as the Solar Power Satellite and high altitude microwave powered aircraft have changed the direction of technology development and greatly expanded the technology base. Recent and current efforts are centered on examining the use of higher frequencies than the baseline 2.45 GHz, and in reducing the system costs at 2.45 GHz. 26 refs., 14 figs.

• OSTI ID: 414956
• Journal Information: Solar Energy, Vol. 56, Issue 1; Other Information: PBD: 1996
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
99 MATHEMATICS
COMPUTERS
INFORMATION SCIENCE
MANAGEMENT
LAW
MISCELLANEOUS
42 ENGINEERING NOT INCLUDED IN OTHER CATEGORIES
MICROWAVE POWER TRANSMISSION
EFFICIENCY
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
HELICOPTERS
ELECTRIC MOTORS
THERMIONIC DIODES
ORBITAL SOLAR POWER PLANTS
RECTENNAS
ALUMINIUM
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
THIN FILMS