Facebook Surface Wave Patents

** Facebook, Google, surface waves, wireless power, line-of-sight, patents

Synopsis

Facebook's and Google's line-of-sight (LOS) surface-wave patents — shared inventor Karthik Yogeeswaran — describe networks that can also deliver targeted wireless power via Sommerfeld-Goubau surface waves.

FacebookGooglesurface wavesSommerfeld-Goubauwireless powerline-of-sightLOSpatentsKarthik Yogeeswaranelectromagnetic surface waveswireless networks

Overview

Facebook's and Google's surface-wave patents share an inventor — Karthik Yogeeswaran. A Goubau (surface) wave can carry wireless power, but it needs a line-of-sight (LOS) receiver. The patents are framed around faster, more precise data transfer — which they genuinely enable — but the same physics also allows targeted wireless power.

In short: LOS receivers establish a perimeter within which they emit and hold a central frequency radius, while the domed emitter pushes out a series of smaller-radius frequencies steered along the curvature of the central emission.

From the patents

Various of the disclosed embodiments relate to line-of-sight (LOS), e.g., optical, based networks. Particularly, systems and methods are provided for aligning nodes in a line-of-sight communication network with their peers. The nodes may be placed and passively aligned with one another as position information is passed between peers. The elevation indicated in the position information may be refined based upon relative barometric pressure readings between peers. In a next phase, isolated networks of nodes may be integrated with the network of nodes contacting the Internet backbone. Finally, routing algorithms may be implemented to address weather effects (e.g., fog) and congestion to optimize network service.

For example, fog 2905 may be impenetrable at optical wavelengths, but not a microwave wavelength. Accordingly, nodes 2910a and 2910b may switch to another communication medium (e.g., microwave) until the condition abates.

Wireless power transmission

From Generating recommended search queries on online social networks (US8949250B1):

Antennae 134A-B are components that convert electric current into radio waves, and vice versa. During transmission of signals, a transmitter applies an oscillating radio frequency (RF) electric current to terminals of antenna 134A-B, and antenna 134A-B radiates the energy of the applied current as electromagnetic (EM) waves. During reception of signals, antennae 134A-B convert the power of an incoming EM wave into a voltage at the terminals of antennae 134A-B. The voltage may be transmitted to a receiver for amplification.

Facebook patent US8949250B1

Versus wireless power transmission using magnetic resonance

From Wireless Power Transmission Using Magnetic Resonance (Cornell College PHY312, December 2011)

Our primary goal was to be able to wirelessly transfer power (in watts) of an AC oscillating waveform into a DC voltage on the receiving end, which could be used to power an electrical load to demonstrate instantaneous power transfer. To do this, we intended to design a tunable oscillator capable of generating frequency in the RF band (1 MHz – 20 MHz) and a power amplifier to supply enough power to be transmitted for powering the electrical load. In addition, we intended to demonstrate evanescent waves by illustrating the exponential relationship of power transmitted to the receiver as a function of the separation distance between the receiver and transmitter coils.

PDF ARCHIVE — Mandip Sibakoti (PDF)

Cornell College — Mandip Sibakoti (PDF - NOT AVAILABLE)

This connects directly to Google's Sommerfeld–Goubau launchers — see Google's Goubau Launchers — which can receive and transmit wireless power via electromagnetic surface waves.