Patents by Inventor Guenther Ottendorfer

Guenther Ottendorfer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Supplementing energy storage of an in-flight solar-powered UAV by casting light from a secondary in-flight UAV
    Patent number: 10476296
    Abstract: A secondary UAV flies over the solar-powered UAV at night and illuminates the solar-powered UAV's solar panels to help supplement the solar-powered UAV's battery charge mid-flight. The secondary UAV could be equipped with a directional light source for providing light of a color and intensity selected for optimal absorption by the solar cells of the solar-powered UAV. As the secondary UAV flies over the solar-powered UAV, the secondary UAV could thus direct its light source at the solar-powered UAV for absorption by the solar cells, to help supplement the solar-powered UAV's battery charge. Further, the secondary UAV could potentially recharge multiple solar-powered UAVs during a single nighttime mission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Walter F. Rausch, Guenther Ottendorfer