Combined antenna-rectifier arrays for power distribution systems
First Claim
1. Apparatus for receiving electromagnetic energy and converting said electromagnetic energy to a DC signal wherein said electromagnetic energy irradiates a substantial spatial region and wherein the power density is nonuniform relative to said irradiated spatial region, said apparatus comprising a plurality of antenna-rectifier modules, each of said antenna-rectifier modules including a semiconductor rectifier that exhibits a nonlinear RF-DC rectification efficiency relative to the power level at which said semiconductor rectifier is operated, each of said antenna-rectifier modules further including a plurality of antenna elements connected for supplying an electrical signal to said semiconductor rectifier when the associated antenna-receiver module is positioned within said irradiated region for receiving said electromagnetic energy, the number of said antennas within each of said antenna-rectifier modules establishing the receiving aperture of that particular antenna-rectifier module to operate said semiconductor rectifier within that particular module at a preselected power level and efficiency, said plurality of antenna-rectifier modules being arrayed within at least a portion of said irradiated region with said receiving aperture of each said antenna-rectifier module being established in view of the power density of said electromagnetic energy at the location of that particular antenna-rectifier module to maintain said operation of said semiconductor rectifier at said desired power level.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical power distribution system wherein electromagnetic energy irradiates a large spatial area is configured to include an array of antenna-rectifier modules wherein the receive aperture of each module is established in accordance with the electromagnetic field intensity at the location of that particular module so as to provide the rectifier circuitry with a predetermined amount of electrical power. Each antenna-rectifier module includes an array of high impedance (e.g., antiresonant) dipoles that are spaced apart along a two-wire transmission line. The total number of dipoles employed is established to provide the desired receive aperture and the impedance of each dipole is established so that the total impedance of the array substantially matches that of the rectifier circuitry employed. The rectifier circuitry is enclosed in and electromagnetically shielded by a conductive housing that is removably interconnected with the array of antenna elements and first and second filtering circuits are included to respectively eliminate high frequency signal components that can be coupled to and radiated by the antenna structure and high frequency ripple within the DC output signal.
292 Citations
18 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for receiving electromagnetic energy and converting said electromagnetic energy to a DC signal wherein said electromagnetic energy irradiates a substantial spatial region and wherein the power density is nonuniform relative to said irradiated spatial region, said apparatus comprising a plurality of antenna-rectifier modules, each of said antenna-rectifier modules including a semiconductor rectifier that exhibits a nonlinear RF-DC rectification efficiency relative to the power level at which said semiconductor rectifier is operated, each of said antenna-rectifier modules further including a plurality of antenna elements connected for supplying an electrical signal to said semiconductor rectifier when the associated antenna-receiver module is positioned within said irradiated region for receiving said electromagnetic energy, the number of said antennas within each of said antenna-rectifier modules establishing the receiving aperture of that particular antenna-rectifier module to operate said semiconductor rectifier within that particular module at a preselected power level and efficiency, said plurality of antenna-rectifier modules being arrayed within at least a portion of said irradiated region with said receiving aperture of each said antenna-rectifier module being established in view of the power density of said electromagnetic energy at the location of that particular antenna-rectifier module to maintain said operation of said semiconductor rectifier at said desired power level.
-
11. A rectenna for use at a selected location in a high frequency electromagnetic field of predetermined frequency that impinges on a predetermined spatial region and exhibits nonuniform power density over said spatial region, said rectenna comprising:
-
a rectifier including a semiconductor device for rectifying electrical signals of a frequency corresponding to said predetermined frequency of said electromagnetic field, said semiconductor device exhibiting a rectification efficiency that varies according to the power level at which that semiconductor device is operated, said semiconductor device further exhibiting a desired range of power levels relative to said rectification efficiency; at least two array segments, each of said array segments including a two-conductor transmission line and a plurality of dipole antenna elements positioned with a predetermined spacing along said two-conductor transmission lines; and electrical connection means for interconnecting said semiconductor device with said two-conductor transmission line of each said array segment to provide said semiconductor device with the electrical signal applied by each said dipole element, the number of said array segments and the number of said dipole elements with each said array segment being established to effect a predetermined receive aperture, said predetermined receive aperture being selected in view of the power density of said electromagnetic field at said selected location of said spatial region to maintain said semiconductor device within said desired range of power levels. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification