公开(公告)号：WO2014011384A1

公开(公告)日：2014-01-16

申请号：PCT/US2013/047241

申请日：2013-06-24

Applicant: GOOGLE INC.

Inventor： TELLER, Eric ,  DEVAUL, Richard, Wayne ,  WEAVER, Joshua ,  BIFFLE, Clifford

IPC: B64B1/44 ,  B64B1/62 ,  H01L31/042

CPC classification number: B64B1/62 ,  B64B1/40 ,  B64B1/56

Abstract: A balloon having an envelope and a payload positioned beneath the envelope. The envelope comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion allows more solar energy to be transferred to gas within the envelope than the second portion. The balloon may operate in a first mode in which altitudinal movement of the balloon is caused, at least in part, by rotating the envelope to change an amount of the first portion that faces the sun and an amount of the second portion that faces the sun, and wherein the control system is further configured to cause the balloon to operate in a second mode in which altitudinal movement of the balloon is caused, at least in part, by moving a lifting gas or air into or out of the envelope.

Abstract translation: 一个气球，其中有一个信封和有效载荷，位于信封的下面。 信封包括第一部分和第二部分，其中第一部分允许更多的太阳能转移到封套内的气体比第二部分。 球囊可以在其中引起气球的高度运动的第一模式中起作用，至少部分地通过旋转信封来改变面对太阳的第一部分的量和面向太阳的第二部分的量 ，并且其中所述控制系统还被配置成使得所述气囊在所述气囊的高度运动被引起的第二模式中至少部分地通过将提升气体或空气移入或移出所述外壳而进行操作。

公开(公告)号：EP2872394A1

公开(公告)日：2015-05-20

申请号：EP13816199.7

申请日：2013-06-24

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： TELLER, Eric ,  DEVAUL, Richard, Wayne ,  WEAVER, Joshua ,  BIFFLE, Clifford

IPC: B64B1/44 ,  B64B1/62 ,  H01L31/042

CPC classification number: B64B1/62 ,  B64B1/40 ,  B64B1/56

Abstract: A balloon having an envelope and a payload positioned beneath the envelope. The envelope comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion allows more solar energy to be transferred to gas within the envelope than the second portion. The balloon may operate in a first mode in which altitudinal movement of the balloon is caused, at least in part, by rotating the envelope to change an amount of the first portion that faces the sun and an amount of the second portion that faces the sun, and wherein the control system is further configured to cause the balloon to operate in a second mode in which altitudinal movement of the balloon is caused, at least in part, by moving a lifting gas or air into or out of the envelope.

公开(公告)号：EP2803149A1

公开(公告)日：2014-11-19

申请号：EP13736223.2

申请日：2013-01-08

Applicant: Google Inc.

Inventor： DEVAUL, Richard, Wayne ,  TELLER, Eric ,  BIFFLE, Clifford ,  WEAVER, Josh

IPC: H04B10/11 ,  H04B10/27 ,  H04B10/40

CPC classification number: H04B10/11 ,  H04B7/18504 ,  H04B10/1129 ,  H04B10/2575 ,  H04W84/005

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments may involve hierarchical balloon networks that include both optical and radio frequency links between balloons. An exemplary network system may include: (a) a plurality of super-node balloons, where each super-node balloon comprises a free-space optical communication system for data communications with one or more other super-node balloons and (b) a plurality of sub-node balloons, where each of the sub-node balloons comprises a radio-frequency communication system that is operable for data communications. Further, at least one super-node balloon may further include an RF communication system that is operable to transmit data to at least one sub-node balloon, where the RF communication system of the at least one sub-node balloon is further operable to receive the data transmitted by the at least one super-node balloon and to transmit the received data to at least one ground-based station.