Integrated Rectifier and Boost Converter for Wireless Power Transmission
First Claim
1. A receiver for providing power to a load, comprising:
- a plurality of rectifiers, each comprising an antenna configured to convert electromagnetic energy from radio-frequency (RF) waves into AC voltage, wherein each of the plurality of rectifiers are configured to convert the AC voltage to a DC voltage and provide a DC voltage output to a common node; and
a boost converter for increasing the DC voltage output, the boost converter comprising an inductor operatively coupled to the common node for receiving the DC voltage output, the boost converter further comprising a microcontroller for controlling an amount of power provided from the inductor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A novel integrated rectifier and boost converter circuit architecture is disclosed. The rectifier architecture includes a plurality of identical half-bridge rectifiers connected to receiving antennas to convert wireless AC power into DC power. The integrated rectifier may be coupled in series with a charging inductor in a boost converter. The inductor may discharge upon operation of two micro-controller-driven switching transistors using predetermined threshold and timing scheme to turn on/off. The rectifier architecture may provide high power densities, improve efficiency at larger load currents, and may be enabled in an integrated circuit with eight RF signal inputs, eight half-bridge rectifiers, and eight DC outputs ganged together as single feed into the boost converter. The rectifier circuit topology may include a comparator driven by the boost controller with a proprietary algorithm which suits control for a maximum power point tracking functionality, and an external micro-controller for additional control of the boost converter.
234 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A receiver for providing power to a load, comprising:
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a plurality of rectifiers, each comprising an antenna configured to convert electromagnetic energy from radio-frequency (RF) waves into AC voltage, wherein each of the plurality of rectifiers are configured to convert the AC voltage to a DC voltage and provide a DC voltage output to a common node; and a boost converter for increasing the DC voltage output, the boost converter comprising an inductor operatively coupled to the common node for receiving the DC voltage output, the boost converter further comprising a microcontroller for controlling an amount of power provided from the inductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for providing power in a receiver to a load, comprising:
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converting electromagnetic energy from radio-frequency (RF) waves into AC voltage in each of a plurality of antennas; converting each of the AC voltages to DC voltages in a plurality of rectifiers, each respectively coupled to one of the plurality of antennas; providing DC voltage outputs from each of the plurality of rectifiers to a common node; increasing the DC voltage output from the common node via a boost converter; and controlling an amount of power provided to the load via a microcontroller. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A receiver for providing power to a load from wireless energy, comprising:
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a plurality of synchronous rectifiers, each comprising an antenna configured to convert electromagnetic energy from radio-frequency (RF) waves into AC voltage, wherein each of the plurality of synchronous rectifiers are configured to convert the AC voltage to a DC voltage and provide a DC voltage output to a common node; and a boost converter for increasing the DC voltage output, the boost converter comprising an inductor operatively coupled to the common node for receiving the DC voltage output, the boost converter further comprising a microcontroller for controlling an amount of power provided from the inductor via a plurality of transistors operatively coupled to the inductor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification