The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 17, 2018
Filed:
Dec. 31, 2015
X Development Llc, Mountain View, CA (US);
Leo Francis Casey, Mountain View, CA (US);
Geoff Dolan, Mountain View, CA (US);
X Development LLC, Mountain View, CA (US);
Abstract
A power distribution system includes at least a ground power unit, an aerial vehicle, and a power station. The ground power unit is configured to convert an input AC power into DC power output, wherein the ground power unit includes at least a first bus, second bus, and a third bus, wherein the first bus is configured to operate at a first voltage level referenced to the third bus, and wherein the second bus is configured to operate at a second voltage level referenced to the third bus that is different from the first voltage level. The aerial vehicle may include a plurality of motor-generators coupled to a respective plurality of turbines, wherein the plurality of motor-generators may be configured to be energized by power received from a tether. The power station may be electrically coupled to at least the first bus, the second bus, and the tether and configured to: (i) selectively energize the tether using the first bus; and (ii) responsive to detecting a fault by at least one motor-generator of the plurality of motor-generators, selectively energize the tether using the second bus and not the first bus.