Power harvesting for RFID/NFC-applications

• US 10,348,130 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2016
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Robert, Harald Helfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bukhari, Aqeel H
• Application Number:
  US15/221,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20180034319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 5/00 Systems for regulating electric variables by detecting deviations in the electric input to the system and thereby controlling a device within the system to obtain a regulated output
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/06 using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

Disclosed is a circuit apparatus including an input section configured to receive an electromagnetic (EM) transmission, a voltage divider section configured to divide the EM transmission into a plurality of voltage levels, a rectifier portion configured to rectify AC power received in the EM transmission, and a load configured to receive DC power from the rectifier portion, wherein one level of the voltage divider section is configured to supply power to a radio frequency identification integrated circuit (RFID-IC).

Claims

1. A circuit apparatus, comprising:

an input section configured to receive an electromagnetic (EM) transmission;

a voltage divider section configured to divide the EM transmission into a plurality of voltage levels and deliver the of voltage levels to a plurality of circuits;

radio frequency identification integrated circuit (RFID-IC) configured to receive one of the plurality of voltage levels;

a rectifier portion configured to receive another of the plurality of voltage levels and configured to rectify AC power received in the EM transmission; and

a load configured to receive DC power from the rectifier portion,

wherein one voltage level of the voltage divider section is configured to supply power to the RFID-IC.

2. The circuit apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RFID-IC includes a data port configured to communicate with electrical components on the circuit apparatus.

3. The circuit apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RFID-IC is in parallel with a capacitor of the voltage divider portion.

4. The circuit apparatus of claim 1, comprising at least one capacitor configured to store charge to be rectified.

5. The circuit apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one capacitor is arranged asymmetrically.

6. The circuit apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input section comprises an antenna with multiple taps.

7. The circuit apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage divider includes a plurality of capacitors.

8. The circuit apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage divider includes a plurality of resistors.

9. A power harvesting apparatus, comprising:

an antenna configured to receive an electromagnetic (EM) transmission, the antenna including a plurality of taps configured to deliver different voltages at a same time received from the EM transmission;

at least one capacitor of a radio frequency identification integrated circuit configured to store charge from one of the different voltages received in the EM transmission; and

a rectifier portion configured to rectify power received from another of the plurality of voltages in the EM transmission and provide the rectified power to a load.

10. The power harvesting apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one capacitor is arranged asymmetrically.

11. The power harvesting apparatus of claim 10, comprising a plurality of capacitors that are arranged symmetrically.

12. The power harvesting apparatus of claim 10, wherein the rectifier portion is configured to produce two voltages across an output load.

13. The power harvesting apparatus of claim 12, wherein the two voltages are a positive voltage and a negative voltage.

14. A power harvesting circuit, comprising:

an antenna configured to receive an electromagnetic (EM) transmission;

a voltage divider circuit having a plurality of nodes configured to produce a plurality of voltages across different sets of the plurality of nodes;

a low power circuit configured to receive one of the plurality of voltage levels from the EM transmission;

a high power circuit configured to receive another of the plurality of the voltage levels an power a load using the high voltage; and

a rectification circuit configured to receive the another voltage level from the EM transmission and rectify the another voltage level to a DC voltage.

15. The power harvesting circuit of claim 14, wherein the low power circuit is a radio-frequency identification integrated circuit (RFID-IC).

16. The power harvesting circuit of claim 14, comprising a load delivery circuit configured to deliver a stepped down voltage to a load.

17. The power harvesting circuit of claim 14, wherein the voltage divider circuit includes a plurality of capacitors.

18. The power harvesting circuit of claim 14, wherein the low power circuit is an RFID integrated circuit.

19. The power harvesting circuit of claim 14, comprising a galvanic connection between the low power circuit and the high power circuit.

20. The power harvesting circuit of claim 14, wherein the voltage divider circuit includes an antenna having a center tap.