Far-field RF power extraction circuits and systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A far-field power extraction circuit comprising:
- an antenna configured to receive an electromagnetic radiation signal; and
a switched rectifier coupled to the antenna, the switched rectifier configured to rectify the electromagnetic radiation signal received by the antenna to produce a direct current (D.C.) voltage at an output, the switched rectifier comprising at least one circuit element having a nonlinear capacitive characteristic.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for performing far-field power extraction are presented. The method includes receiving an electromagnetic radiation signal, rectifying the signal to produce a direct current (D.C.) voltage and providing the D.C. voltage to a circuit. A far-field power extraction circuit includes an antenna for receiving an electromagnetic radiation signal, a rectifier for rectifying the electromagnetic radiation signal. The circuit may further include a charge pump for amplifying the rectified voltage, an impedance matching network for coupling the antenna to the rectifier and a feedback tuning circuit for optimizing performance of the extraction circuit.
117 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A far-field power extraction circuit comprising:
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an antenna configured to receive an electromagnetic radiation signal; and a switched rectifier coupled to the antenna, the switched rectifier configured to rectify the electromagnetic radiation signal received by the antenna to produce a direct current (D.C.) voltage at an output, the switched rectifier comprising at least one circuit element having a nonlinear capacitive characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A far-field power extraction circuit comprising:
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an antenna configured to receive an electromagnetic radiation signal; a switched rectifier coupled to the antenna, the rectifier configured to rectify the electromagnetic radiation signal received by the antenna to produce a direct current (D.C.) voltage at an output; and an impedance matching network coupled between the antenna and the switched rectifier, the impedance matching network configured to match an antenna impedance with the remainder of the circuit, the impedance matching network comprising transmission line segments comprising inductor-resistor-capacitor line segments. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A far-field power extraction circuit comprising:
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an antenna configured to receive an electromagnetic radiation signal; a switched rectifier coupled to the antenna, the rectifier configured to rectify the electromagnetic radiation signal received by the antenna to produce a direct current (D.C.) voltage at an output; and a charge pump coupled to an output of the switched rectifier, wherein the charge pump comprises; a first N-type Metal Oxide Semiconductor (NMOS) switch, wherein an input voltage is coupled to a source of the first NMOS switch, and wherein a substrate of the first NMOS switch is coupled to ground; a second NMOS switch, wherein the input voltage is coupled to a source of the second NMOS switch, and wherein a substrate of the second NMOS switch is coupled to ground; a first P-type Metal Oxide Semiconductor (PMOS) switch; and a second PMOS switch, wherein a drain of the first PMOS switch, a drain of said second NMOS switch, a substrate of the first PMOS switch and a substrate of the second PMOS switch are coupled together and provide an output voltage. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A far-field power extraction circuit comprising:
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an antenna configured to receive an electromagnetic radiation signal; and a switched rectifier coupled to the antenna, the switched rectifier configured to rectify the electromagnetic radiation signal received by the antenna to produce a direct current (D.C.) voltage at an output, the switched rectifier comprising at least one of the group comprising a rectifier incorporating capacitive nonlinearities, a rectifier using transmission line segments, and a rectifier using one or more switching rectifier circuits, wherein said switched rectifier incorporating capacitive nonlinearities comprises; a variable capacitor; a first P-type Metal Oxide Semiconductor (PMOS) switch; and a second PMOS switch wherein said variable capacitor is coupled to an RF source, a first lead of said variable capacitor is coupled to a source of said first PMOS switch and coupled to a gate of said second PMOS switch, a second lead of said variable capacitor is coupled to a gate of said first PMOS switch and a drain of said second PMOS switch and wherein a drain of said first PMOS switch is coupled to a source of said second PMOS switch and to a load capacitor.
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23. A far-field power extraction circuit comprising:
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an antenna configured to receive an electromagnetic radiation signal; and a switched rectifier coupled to the antenna, the switched rectifier configured to rectify the electromagnetic radiation signal received by the antenna to produce a direct current (D.C.) voltage at an output, the switched rectifier comprising at least one of the group comprising a rectifier incorporating capacitive nonlinearities, a rectifier using transmission line segments, and a rectifier using one or more switching rectifier circuits, wherein the transmission line segments have exponentially tapering cut-off frequencies.
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24. A far-field power extraction circuit comprising:
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an antenna configured to receive an electromagnetic radiation signal; a switched rectifier coupled to the antenna, the switched rectifier configured to rectify the electromagnetic radiation signal received by the antenna to produce a direct current (D.C.) voltage at an output, the switched rectifier comprising at least one of the group comprising a rectifier incorporating capacitive nonlinearities, a rectifier using transmission line segments, and a rectifier using one or more switching rectifier circuits; and at least one charge pump coupled to an output of the rectifier, wherein the at least one charge pump comprises; a first N-type Metal Oxide Semiconductor (NMOS) switch, wherein an input voltage is coupled to a source of the first NMOS switch, and wherein a substrate of the first NMOS switch is coupled to ground; a second NMOS switch, wherein the input voltage is coupled to a source of the second NMOS switch, and wherein a substrate of the second NMOS switch is coupled to ground; a first P-type Metal Oxide Semiconductor (PMOS) switch; and a second PMOS switch, wherein a drain of the first PMOS switch, a drain of said second NMOS switch, a substrate of the first PMOS switch and a substrate of the second PMOS switch are coupled together and provide an output voltage; a first pump capacitor, wherein a gate of said first NMOS switch is coupled to a drain of said second NMOS switch, a gate of said first PMOS switch, a source of said second PMOS switch, and to a first lead of said first pump capacitor; and
wherein a second lead of said first pump capacitor is coupled to a first reference signal; anda second pump capacitor wherein a gate of said second NMOS switch is coupled to a drain of said first NMOS switch, a gate of said second PMOS switch, a source of said first PMOS switch, and to a first lead of said second pump capacitor;
wherein a second lead of said second pump capacitor is coupled to a second reference signal.
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25. A far-field power extraction circuit comprising:
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an antenna configured to receive an electromagnetic radiation signal; a switched rectifier coupled to the antenna, the switched rectifier configured to rectify the electromagnetic radiation signal received by the antenna to produce a direct current (D.C.) voltage at an output, the switched rectifier comprising at least one of the group comprising a rectifier incorporating capacitive nonlinearities, a rectifier using transmission line segments, and a rectifier using one or more switching rectifier circuits; an impedance matching network coupled between the antenna and the switched rectifier, the impedance matching network configured to match an antenna impedance with the remainder of the circuit; and a feedback tuning network coupled between the impedance matching network and the output voltage, the feedback tuning circuit comprising; a bias generator; a clock generator, wherein the bias generator is coupled to the clock generator; a slope detector, wherein the slope detector is coupled to the switched rectifier and said charge pumps; a predictor, wherein the clock generator is coupled to the slope detector and the predictor; an integrator, a first varactor; and a second varactor, the integrator being coupled to the predictor and to the first and second varactors;
wherein the first and second varactors being coupled to the antenna,wherein the feedback tuning circuit controls a resonant frequency of the antenna by changing a capacitance of the first and second varactors coupled across output terminals of the antenna.
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Specification