PASSIVELY POWERED ELEMENT WITH MULTIPLE ENERGY HARVESTING AND COMMUNICATION CHANNELS
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of antennae tuned to transmit and to receive radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies;
a plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits, each of the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits coupled to a distinct one of the plurality of antennae, to convert energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power and to receive data in the RF signals; and
an electronic device coupled to the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits, the electronic device to receive the DC power and the data from the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits.
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Abstract
A passively powered element with multiple energy harvesting and communication channels is described. The passively powered element may include a number of antennae tuned to transmit and to receive radio frequency (RF) signals at multiple different frequencies. The passively powered element may further include a number of rectifiers, each coupled to a distinct one of the antennae, to convert energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power and to receive data in the RF signals. An electronic device is coupled to the rectifiers to receive the DC power and the data from the rectifiers.
128 Citations
39 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of antennae tuned to transmit and to receive radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies; a plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits, each of the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits coupled to a distinct one of the plurality of antennae, to convert energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power and to receive data in the RF signals; and an electronic device coupled to the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits, the electronic device to receive the DC power and the data from the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system comprising:
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a passive element reader; and a passively powered element communicably coupled to the passive element reader, the passively powered element comprising; a plurality of antennae tuned to transmit and to receive radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies from the passive element reader; a plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits, each of the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits coupled to a distinct one of the plurality of antennae, to convert energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power, to receive data in the RF signals, and to transmit data in the RF signals; and an electronic device coupled to the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits, the electronic device to receive the DC power and the data from the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A system comprising:
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a plurality of passive element readers; and a passively powered element communicably coupled to the plurality of passive element readers, the passively powered element comprising; a plurality of antennae tuned to transmit and to receive radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies from the passive element reader; a plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits, each of the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits coupled to a distinct one of the plurality of antennae, to convert energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power, to receive data in the RF signals, and to transmit data in the RF signals; and an electronic device coupled to the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits, the electronic device to receive the DC power and the data from the plurality of power rectifying and communication circuits. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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tuning a plurality of antennae to transmit and to receive radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies; converting energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power; receiving data in the RF signals; transmitting data in the RF signals; powering an electronic device using the DC power; and processing the data using the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus comprising:
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means for transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies; means for converting energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power; means for receiving data in the RF signals; means for transmitting data in the RF signals; and means for powering an electronic device using the DC power, wherein the electronic device is operable to process the data in the RF signals. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. An apparatus comprising:
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a multi-band antenna to transmit and to receive radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies, the multi-band antenna comprising a plurality of ports; a plurality of rectifiers, each of the plurality of rectifiers coupled to a distinct one of the plurality of ports, to convert energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power; a data receiver coupled to the multi-band antenna, to receive data in the RF signals; and an electronic device coupled to the plurality of rectifiers and the data receiver, the electronic device to receive the DC power and the data from the plurality of rectifiers. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. An apparatus comprising:
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a multi-band antenna to transmit and to receive radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies, the multi-band antenna comprising a plurality of ports; a multi-band rectifier having a plurality of inputs, each of the plurality of inputs coupled to a distinct one of the plurality of ports, the multi-band rectifier operable to convert energy of the RF signals into direct current (DC) power; a data receiver coupled to the multi-band antenna, to receive data in the RF signals; and an electronic device coupled to the multi-band rectifier and the data receiver, the electronic device to receive the DC power and the data from the multi-band rectifier. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A passive element reader comprising:
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a host interface; and a signal transmission module coupled to the host interface, the signal transmission module comprising one or more transmit antennae to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies to a passive element, wherein the passive element harvests power from the RF signals and reads data in the RF signals, wherein the passive element is powered by the power harvested from the RF signals, and one or more receive antennae to receive RF signals at the plurality of frequencies transmitted from the passive element. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method comprising:
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generating radio frequency (RF) signals at a plurality of frequencies using a passive element reader; and transmitting the RF signals from the passive element reader to a passive element to cause the passive element to harvest power from the RF signals and to read data in the RF signals, wherein the passive element is powered by the power harvested from the RF signals. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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Specification