Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for transmitting energy conveyed in the form of a guided surface-waveguide mode along the surface of a lossy medium such as, e.g., a terrestrial medium by exciting a guided surface waveguide probe.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for transmitting and receiving energy conveyed in the form of a guided surface-waveguide mode along the surface of a lossy medium such as, e.g., a terrestrial medium excited by a guided surface waveguide probe.

Abstract: The present disclosure sets forth various embodiments of power reception kits and methods. In one embodiment, a guided surface wave receive structure is configured to obtain electrical energy from a guided surface wave travelling along a terrestrial medium. Power output circuitry having a power output is configured to be coupled to an electrical load. The electrical load is experienced as a load at an excitation source coupled to a guided surface waveguide probe generating the guided surface wave. At least one connector is configured to couple the at least one guided surface wave receive structure to the power output circuitry.

Abstract: Various embodiments for heat management around a phase delay coil in a probe are described. A guided surface waveguide probe may be at least partially housed or enclosed in a structure and configured to generate electrical energy in the form of a guided surface wave traveling along a terrestrial medium, where the guided surface waveguide probe comprises at least one electromagnetic coil encapsulated by an exterior of the structure. A cooling device may be provided and configured to manage heat in the structure by providing cold air between the at least one electromagnetic coil and the exterior of the structure.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for preventing theft of energy transmitted as a guided surface wave along the surface of a terrestrial medium, by pulsing the transmitted energy and protecting authorized devices from the pulse. In one embodiment, a guided surface wave receive structure is configured to obtain electrical energy from a guided surface wave. An electrical load coupled to the guided surface wave receive structure. The electrical load is experienced as a load at an excitation source coupled to a guided surface waveguide probe that is generating the guided surface wave with an electrical field strength that may be selectively increased. A pulse protection circuit is employed to selectively protect the electrical load from an increase in electrical energy received by the guided surface wave receive structure when the electrical field strength is selectively increased, while unprotected circuits may be damaged or disrupted by the pulse.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for eliminating or minimizing atmospheric discharge within the internal phasing coil of the guided surface waveguide probe. A guided surface waveguide probe comprises a charge terminal elevated over a lossy conducting medium. The shape of the charge terminal is designed to minimize atmospheric discharge. A top portion of a coil being configured to provide a voltage to the charge terminal with a phase delay that matches a wave tilt angle associated with a complex Brewster angle of incidence associated with the lossy conducting medium is recessed within a hollow region of the charge terminal.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for controlling the operation of a guided surface waveguide probe. A control system coupled to the guided surface waveguide probe can monitor and control the guided surface waveguide probe and one or more subsystems associated with the guided surface waveguide probe. Based on data collected from the guided surface waveguide probe and/or the various subsystems, the control system can adjust the operation of the guided surface waveguide probe. Human operators can interact with the control system at a location outside of a safety perimeter surrounding the guided surface waveguide probe.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of load shedding techniques for a guided surface wave power delivery system. In one embodiment, among others, a guided surface waveguide probe is configured to transmit a guided surface wave along a lossy conducting medium; and a load shedding controller device is configured to send load shedding instructions to a plurality of user devices. The load shedding instructions regulate user device consumption of electrical energy provided by the guided surface wave amongst the plurality of user devices by spreading out activation and deactivation of load shedding conservations amongst the plurality of user devices.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a guided surface wave transmitter/receiver configured to transmit a guided surface wave at a first frequency and to receive guided surface waves at a second frequency, concurrently with the transmission of guided surface waves at the first frequency. The various embodiments can be configured to retransmit received power and applied the received power to an electrical load. The various embodiments of the guided surface wave transmitter/receiver also can be configured as an amplitude modulation (AM) repeater.

Abstract: Aspects of return coupled wireless power transmission systems are described. A system can include a conductor. The conductor can extend from a guided surface waveguide probe. The conductor can be coupled to a ground of the guided surface waveguide probe. A guided surface wave receiver can be positioned proximate to the conductor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensing device including a guided surface wave receive structure, a physical parameter sensor, and a radio frequency transmitter. The guided surface wave receive structure may be configured to obtain electrical energy from a guided surface wave traveling along a terrestrial medium. The physical parameter sensor may be coupled to the guided surface wave receive structure. The physical parameter sensor may also measure a physical parameter associated with a physical environment local to the physical parameter sensor. The radio frequency transmitter may be coupled to the guided surface wave receive structure and communicatively coupled to the physical parameter sensor. The radio frequency transmitter may also obtain a physical parameter measurement and transmit the physical parameter measurement over a wireless network.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of systems and methods for transmitting guided surface waves that illuminate a defined region. In one embodiment, such a method comprises installing a plurality of guided surface waveguide probes across a defined region having set boundaries, and setting respective frequency values of operation for the plurality of guided surface waveguide probes that allow for respective service areas to be defined that in the aggregate cover the defined region with guided surface waves.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for disaster warning recovery including a power modulator. A location is determined for an area affected by an emergency event. An emergency message is generated that corresponds to the emergency event. The emergency message is transmitted by via a guided surface wave. The guided surface wave is launched by a guided surface waveguide probe. The power modulator is coupled to the guided surface waveguide probe.

Abstract: Disclosed is a guided surface waveguide probe with a charge terminal that is elevated over a lossy conducting medium. A primary coil can be coupled to an excitation source within a substructure. A secondary coil can provide a voltage to the charge terminal with a phase delay (?) that matches a wave tilt angle (?) associated with a complex Brewster angle of incidence (?i,B) associated with the lossy conducting medium. The primary coil can be configured to inductively couple to the secondary coil.

Abstract: Disclosed is hybrid communication in which a first message from a guided surface wave probe node is embedded in a guided surface wave, and a second message from a guided surface wave receive node uses a different messaging mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed are various approaches for navigation identifying one's current position. A navigation device receives a guided surface wave using a guided surface wave receive structure. The navigation device then receives a reflection of the guided surface wave using the guided surface wave receive structure. The navigation device calculates an amount of time elapsed between receiving the guided surface wave and receiving the reflection of guided surface wave. The navigation device then measures an angle between a wave front of the guided surface wave and a polar axis of the Earth. Finally the navigation device determines a location of the guided surface wave receive structure based at least in part on the angle between the wave front of the guided surface wave and the polar axis of the Earth the amount of time elapsed between receiving the guided surface wave and receiving the reflection of guided surface wave.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for fixing a navigational position using guided surface waves launched from guided surface wave waveguide probes at various ground stations. A guided surface wave is received using a guided surface wave receive structure. A reflection of the guided surface wave is received using the guided surface wave receive structure. An amount of time that has elapsed between receiving the guided surface wave and receiving the reflection of guided surface wave is calculated. A location of the guided surface wave receive structure is determined based at least in part on the amount of time elapsed between receiving the guided surface wave and receiving the reflection of guided surface wave.

Abstract: Disclosed are various approaches for measuring and reporting the amount of electrical power consumed by an electrical load attached to a guided surface wave receive structure. A guided surface wave receive structure is configured to obtain electrical energy from a guided surface wave traveling along a terrestrial medium. An electrical load is coupled to the guided surface wave receive structure, the electrical load being experienced as a load at an excitation source coupled to a guided surface waveguide probe generating the guided surface wave. An electric power meter coupled to the electrical load and configured to measure the electrical load.

Abstract: Disclosed are various approaches for determining a location using guided surface waves. A guided surface wave is received. A field strength of a guided surface wave is identified. A phase of the guided surface wave is identified. A distance from a guided surface waveguide probe that launched the guided surface wave is calculated. A location is determined based at least in part on the distance from the guided surface waveguide probe.

Abstract: Aspects of a hierarchical power distribution network are described. In some embodiments, a first guided surface waveguide probe launches a first guided surface wave along a surface of a terrestrial medium within a first power distribution region. A guided surface wave receive structure obtains electrical energy from the first guided surface wave. A second guided surface waveguide probe launches a second guided surface wave along the surface of the terrestrial medium within a second power distribution region using the electrical energy obtained from the first guided surface wave.