Balloon envelope with integrated receiver
    1.
    发明授权
    Balloon envelope with integrated receiver 有权
    带集成接收器的气球信封

    公开(公告)号:US08917995B1

    公开(公告)日:2014-12-23

    申请号:US13674052

    申请日:2012-11-11

    IPC分类号: H04B10/112

    CPC分类号: H04B10/1129

    摘要: A balloon envelope with an integrated receiver. In an example embodiment, a balloon includes: (i) an envelope including one or more signal passing sections, each of the one or more signal-passing sections being configured to allow a signal to pass through; (ii) at least one signal receiver corresponding to a particular one of the one or more signal passing sections; and (iii) at least one signal-directing surface located within the envelope and corresponding to the particular one of the one or more signal-passing sections, the at least one signal-directing surface being configured to receive the signal and direct the signal towards the at least one signal receiver.

    摘要翻译: 具有集成接收器的气球信封。 在示例实施例中,气球包括:(i)包含一个或多个信号通过部分的包络,所述一个或多个信号传递部分中的每一个被配置为允许信号通过; (ii)对应于所述一个或多个信号通过部分中的特定一个的至少一个信号接收器; 以及(iii)至少一个信号引导表面,其位于所述封套内并且对应于所述一个或多个信号通过部分中的特定信号通道部分,所述至少一个信号引导表面被配置为接收所述信号并将所述信号引向 所述至少一个信号接收器。

    Balloon Power Sources with a Buoyancy Trade-Off
    3.
    发明申请
    Balloon Power Sources with a Buoyancy Trade-Off 有权
    浮力动力源与浮力平衡

    公开(公告)号:US20140048646A1

    公开(公告)日:2014-02-20

    申请号:US13590020

    申请日:2012-08-20

    IPC分类号: B64B1/44

    摘要: Example embodiments may facilitate altitude control by a balloon in a balloon network. An example method involves: (a) causing a balloon to operate in a first mode, wherein the balloon comprises an envelope, a high-pressure storage chamber, and a solar power system, (b) while the balloon is operating in the first mode: (i) operating the solar power system to generate power for the balloon and (ii) using at least some of the power generated by the solar power system to move gas from the envelope to the high-pressure storage chamber such that the buoyancy of the balloon decreases; (c) causing the balloon to operate in a second mode; and while the balloon is operating in the second mode, moving gas from the high-pressure storage chamber to the envelope such that the buoyancy of the balloon increases.

    摘要翻译: 示例性实施例可以促进气球网络中的气球的高度控制。 示例性方法包括:(a)使气球以第一模式操作,其中气囊包括外壳,高压储存室和太阳能发电系统,(b)当气囊以第一模式操作时 (i)操作太阳能发电系统以产生用于气球的电力,以及(ii)使用由太阳能发电系统产生的至少一些电力将气体从外壳移动到高压储存室,使得浮力 气球减少; (c)使气球以第二模式操作; 并且当气囊在第二模式下操作时,将气体从高压储存室移动到外壳,使得气球的浮力增加。

    Incentivized Recovery of Balloon Materials
    4.
    发明申请
    Incentivized Recovery of Balloon Materials 有权
    气球材料的激励回收

    公开(公告)号:US20140015694A1

    公开(公告)日:2014-01-16

    申请号:US13550160

    申请日:2012-07-16

    IPC分类号: G08B21/00

    CPC分类号: B64B1/40

    摘要: Methods and systems involving an incentivized recovery of balloon materials are disclosed herein. An example system may be configured to: (a) determine a landing location of a balloon, where the balloon has been configured to operate as a node in a balloon network; (b) detect a removal event corresponding to the balloon ceasing to operate as a node in the balloon network and descending to the landing location; and (c) in response to detecting the removal event, initiate a transmission of a recovery-assistance signal that is comprised of (i) location data corresponding to the landing location of the balloon and (ii) an indication of an incentive to recover the balloon.

    摘要翻译: 本文公开了涉及激发回收球囊材料的方法和系统。 示例系统可以被配置为:(a)确定气球的着陆位置,其中气球已被配置为作为气球网络中的节点操作; (b)检测与所述气球相对应的移除事件停止作为所述气球网络中的节点并下降到所述着陆位置; 和(c)响应于检测到去除事件,发起恢复辅助信号的传输,该恢复辅助信号包括(i)对应于气球的着陆位置的位置数据,以及(ii)恢复 气球。

    Balloon power sources with a buoyancy trade-off
    5.
    发明授权
    Balloon power sources with a buoyancy trade-off 有权
    具有浮力折衷的气球动力源

    公开(公告)号:US08967533B2

    公开(公告)日:2015-03-03

    申请号:US13590020

    申请日:2012-08-20

    IPC分类号: B64B1/62

    摘要: Example embodiments may facilitate altitude control by a balloon in a balloon network. An example method involves: (a) causing a balloon to operate in a first mode, wherein the balloon comprises an envelope, a high-pressure storage chamber, and a solar power system, (b) while the balloon is operating in the first mode: (i) operating the solar power system to generate power for the balloon and (ii) using at least some of the power generated by the solar power system to move gas from the envelope to the high-pressure storage chamber such that the buoyancy of the balloon decreases; (c) causing the balloon to operate in a second mode; and while the balloon is operating in the second mode, moving gas from the high-pressure storage chamber to the envelope such that the buoyancy of the balloon increases.

    摘要翻译: 示例性实施例可以促进气球网络中的气球的高度控制。 示例性方法包括:(a)使气球以第一模式操作,其中气囊包括外壳,高压储存室和太阳能发电系统,(b)当气囊以第一模式操作时 (i)操作太阳能发电系统以产生用于气球的电力,以及(ii)使用由太阳能发电系统产生的至少一些电力将气体从外壳移动到高压储存室,使得浮力 气球减少; (c)使气球以第二模式操作; 并且当气囊在第二模式下操作时,将气体从高压储存室移动到外壳,使得气球的浮力增加。

    Geo-Fencing
    7.
    发明申请
    Geo-Fencing 审中-公开
    地理围栏

    公开(公告)号:US20140014770A1

    公开(公告)日:2014-01-16

    申请号:US13547503

    申请日:2012-07-12

    IPC分类号: B64B1/40 B64D1/12

    摘要: A balloon includes a cut-down device, a payload, and an envelope. A control system could be configured to determine a position of the balloon with respect to a predetermined zone. The cut-down device could be operable to cause at least the payload to land in response to determining that the position of the balloon is within the predetermined zone. The predetermined zone includes an exclusion zone and a shadow zone. The shadow zone could include locations from which the balloon would be likely to drift into the exclusion zone based on, e.g., historic weather patterns or expected environmental conditions. Boundaries of the shadow zone could be determined based on, for example, a probability of the balloon entering the exclusion zone.

    摘要翻译: 气球包括切割装置,有效载荷和信封。 控制系统可被配置为确定气囊相对于预定区域的位置。 响应于确定球囊的位置在预定区域内,切割装置可操作以使至少有效载荷着陆。 预定区域包括禁区和阴影区。 阴影区域可以包括基于例如历史天气模式或期望的环境条件气球可能从该位置漂移到排除区域中的位置。 阴影区域的边界可以基于例如气球进入排除区域的概率来确定。

    Recovery of balloon materials
    8.
    发明授权
    Recovery of balloon materials 有权
    恢复球囊材料

    公开(公告)号:US08988253B2

    公开(公告)日:2015-03-24

    申请号:US13550160

    申请日:2012-07-16

    IPC分类号: G08B21/00 B64B1/40

    CPC分类号: B64B1/40

    摘要: Methods and systems involving an incentivized recovery of balloon materials are disclosed herein. An example system may be configured to: (a) determine a landing location of a balloon, where the balloon has been configured to operate as a node in a balloon network; (b) detect a removal event corresponding to the balloon ceasing to operate as a node in the balloon network and descending to the landing location; and (c) in response to detecting the removal event, initiate a transmission of a recovery-assistance signal that is comprised of (i) location data corresponding to the landing location of the balloon and (ii) an indication of an incentive to recover the balloon.

    摘要翻译: 本文公开了涉及激发回收球囊材料的方法和系统。 示例系统可以被配置为:(a)确定气球的着陆位置,其中气球已被配置为作为气球网络中的节点操作; (b)检测与所述气球相对应的移除事件停止作为所述气球网络中的节点并下降到所述着陆位置; 和(c)响应于检测到去除事件,发起恢复辅助信号的传输,该恢复辅助信号包括(i)对应于气球的着陆位置的位置数据,以及(ii)恢复 气球。

    Location-aware profiles in a balloon network
    9.
    发明授权
    Location-aware profiles in a balloon network 有权
    气球网络中的位置感知配置文件

    公开(公告)号:US09281896B2

    公开(公告)日:2016-03-08

    申请号:US13485514

    申请日:2012-05-31

    IPC分类号: G06F15/173 H04B10/118

    摘要: Disclosed embodiments may help a balloon network to provide substantially continuous service in a given geographic area. An example method may be carried out at a balloon that is at a location associated with the first geographic area in a balloon network that includes a plurality of geographic areas. The balloon may determine that it should update its balloon-state in accordance with a balloon-state profile for the first geographic area. Then, in response, the balloon may determine the balloon-state profile for the first geographic area, which may include one or more state parameters for balloons operating in the first geographic area. The balloon may then operate according to the balloon-state profile for the first geographic area.

    摘要翻译: 公开的实施例可以帮助气球网络在给定的地理区域中提供基本上连续的服务。 可以在包括多个地理区域的气球网络中的与第一地理区域相关联的位置处的气球执行示例性方法。 气球可以确定它应该根据第一地理区域的气球状态轮廓更新其气球状态。 然后,作为响应,气球可以确定第一地理区域的气球状态轮廓,其可以包括在第一地理区域中操作的气球的一个或多个状态参数。 气球然后可以根据第一地理区域的气球状态轮廓进行操作。

    Altitude control via rotation of balloon to adjust balloon density
    10.
    发明授权
    Altitude control via rotation of balloon to adjust balloon density 有权
    通过气球旋转进行高度控制,以调整气球密度

    公开(公告)号:US08733697B2

    公开(公告)日:2014-05-27

    申请号:US13346620

    申请日:2012-01-09

    IPC分类号: B64B1/58

    CPC分类号: B64B1/62 B64B1/60 G05D1/042

    摘要: A balloon that includes an envelope with a gas contained within the envelope, as well as a payload connected to the envelope wherein the envelope has a first portion that has a first absorptive or reflective property with respect to allowing solar energy to be transferred to the gas within the envelope, and a second portion that has a second absorptive or reflective property with respect to allowing solar energy to be transferred to the gas within the envelope where the second absorptive or reflective property is different than the first absorptive or reflective property, and wherein the envelope is rotatable to allow a preferred ratio of the first and second portions of the envelope to be positioned facing the sun.

    摘要翻译: 一种气囊,其包括具有包含在信封内的气体的信封,以及连接到信封的有效负载,其中该封套具有第一部分,该第一部分具有第一吸收性或反射性,以使太阳能转移到气体 以及具有第二吸收性或反射性的第二部分,其相对于允许太阳能转移到第二吸收或反射性质不同于第一吸收或反射性质的封套内的气体中,并且其中 信封可旋转以允许外壳的第一和第二部分的优选比例面向太阳定位。