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Combined antenna-rectifier arrays for power distribution systems

  • US 4,360,741 A
  • Filed: 10/06/1980
  • Issued: 11/23/1982
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1980
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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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.

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