Method and apparatus for high efficiency rectification for various loads
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a first AC-to-DC converter configured to receive a signal having a power level within a first power range, the first AC-to-DC converter configured to be operatively coupled to a load, the first AC-to-DC converter has an output resistance substantially equal to a discrete resistance of the load during a first time period;
a second AC-to-DC converter configured to receive a signal having a power level within a second power range, the second AC-to-DC converter configured to be operatively coupled to the load, the second AC-to-DC converter has an output resistance substantially equal to a discrete resistance of the load during a second time period different from the first time period, the discrete resistance of the load during the second time period being different from the discrete resistance of the load during the first time period;
a selector operatively coupled to the first AC-to-DC converter and the second AC-to-DC converter, the selector configured to receive an input signal, the selector configured to direct the input signal to the first AC-to-DC converter when a power level of the input signal is within the first power range, the selector configured to direct the input signal to the second AC-to-DC converter when the power level of the input signal is within the second power range.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for converting power includes at least one impedance matching network which receives an electrical signal. The apparatus includes at least one AC to DC converter in communication with the impedance matching network. Also disclosed is a method for powering a load and an apparatus for converting power and additional embodiments of an apparatus for converting power.
288 Citations
40 Claims
-
1. An apparatus, comprising:
-
a first AC-to-DC converter configured to receive a signal having a power level within a first power range, the first AC-to-DC converter configured to be operatively coupled to a load, the first AC-to-DC converter has an output resistance substantially equal to a discrete resistance of the load during a first time period; a second AC-to-DC converter configured to receive a signal having a power level within a second power range, the second AC-to-DC converter configured to be operatively coupled to the load, the second AC-to-DC converter has an output resistance substantially equal to a discrete resistance of the load during a second time period different from the first time period, the discrete resistance of the load during the second time period being different from the discrete resistance of the load during the first time period; a selector operatively coupled to the first AC-to-DC converter and the second AC-to-DC converter, the selector configured to receive an input signal, the selector configured to direct the input signal to the first AC-to-DC converter when a power level of the input signal is within the first power range, the selector configured to direct the input signal to the second AC-to-DC converter when the power level of the input signal is within the second power range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An apparatus, comprising:
-
an energy harvester having a first AC-to-DC converter and a second AC-to-DC converter, the energy harvester configured to be operatively coupled to a load, the first AC-to-DC converter defining a first signal path optimized to receive an input signal having a power level within a first power range, the second AC-to-DC converter defining a second signal path optimized to receive an input signal having a power level within a second power range different from the first power range, the energy harvester is configured to provide operative power to a microcontroller such that the microcontroller operates in a first mode when the first AC-to-DC converter receives the input signal having the power level within the first power range and operates in a second mode when the second AC-to-DC converter receives the input signal having the power level within the second power range. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. An apparatus, comprising:
-
an energy harvester having a first AC-to-DC converter and a second AC-to-DC converter, the energy harvester configured to be operatively coupled to a load, the first AC-to-DC converter defining a first signal path optimized to receive an input signal having a voltage level within a first voltage range, the second AC-to-DC converter defining a second signal path optimized to receive an input signal having a voltage level within a second voltage range different from the first voltage range, the energy harvester is configured to provide operative power to a microcontroller such that the microcontroller operates in a first mode when the first AC-to-DC converter receives the input signal having the voltage level within the first voltage range and operates in a second mode when the second AC-to-DC converter receives the input signal having the voltage level within the second voltage range. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. An apparatus, comprising:
-
a first AC-to-DC converter configured to receive a signal having a voltage level within a first voltage range, the first AC-to-DC converter configured to be operatively coupled to a load, the first AC-to-DC converter has an output resistance substantially equal to a discrete resistance of the load during a first time period; a second AC-to-DC converter configured to receive a signal having a voltage level within a second voltage range, the second AC-to-DC converter configured to be operatively coupled to the load, the second AC-to-DC converter has an output resistance substantially equal to a discrete resistance of the load during a second time period different from the first time period, the discrete resistance of the load during the second time period being different from the discrete resistance of the load during the first time period; a selector operatively coupled to the first AC-to-DC converter and the second AC-to-DC converter, the selector configured to receive an input signal, the selector configured to direct the input signal to the first AC-to-DC converter when the voltage level of the input signal is within the first voltage range, the selector configured to direct the input signal to the second AC-to-DC converter when the voltage level of the input signal is within the second voltage range. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
-
Specification