Power receiver circuit

• US 9,912,165 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2017
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: uBeam, Inc.
• Original Assignee: uBeam, Inc.
• Inventors: Gao, Hong, Bolus, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Application Number:
  US15/665,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20170331299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 218 Days
• Field of Search: 307104, 320108
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/002 Intermediate AC, e.g. DC supply with intermediated AC distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/082 Plural DC voltage, e.g. DC supply voltage with at least two different DC voltage levels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/102 being switching converters H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/108 using diodes blocking reverse current flow H02J1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/12 Parallel operation of dc generators with converters, e.g. with mercury-arc rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/15 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0045 Converters combining the concepts of switch-mode regulation and linear regulation, e.g. linear pre-regulator to switching converter, linear and switching converter in parallel, same converter or same transistor operating either in linear or switching mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/2176 comprising a passive stage to generate a rectified sinusoidal voltage and a controlled switching element in series between such stage and the output

Abstract

Systems and techniques are provided for a power receiver circuit. A power generating mechanism may include power generating elements that may generate alternating current signals. Rectifier circuit may include rectifiers that may generate a direct current signal from an alternating current signal, and diodes. Group circuits that may connect groups of rectifier circuits in electrical circuits to combine the direct current signals from the rectifier circuits in a group into a single direct current signal. A step down converter may be connected to the group circuits. The step down converter may convert a direct current signal to a direct current signal of a target voltage level. An output switch may be connected to the step down converter. A linear regulator may be connected to the step down converter. A microcontroller may be connected to the linear regulator and the output switch and may control the output switch.

Claims

1. A power receiver circuit device comprising:

a power generating mechanism comprising power generating elements configured to generate alternating current signals;

one or more rectifier circuits, each rectifier circuit comprising a rectifier configured to generate a direct current signal from the alternating current signal and a diode;

one or more group circuits, each group circuit connecting a group of rectifier circuits in an electrical circuit to combine the direct current signals from the rectifier circuits in the group into a single direct current signal;

one or more switch circuits, each switch circuit comprising one or more switch channels, each switch channel connected to one of the group circuits, wherein each switch channel comprises a switch bank comprising two or more outputs and a maximum power point tracker (MPPT);

a voltage bus comprising two or more capacitors, each capacitor connected to one or more of the switch circuits;

two or more undervoltage lockouts, each undervoltage lockout having an input connected to one of the capacitors and an output, each of the two or more undervoltage lockouts configured to disconnect its output when a voltage level input to the undervoltage lockout drops below a predetermined threshold, and wherein the predetermined threshold is different for at least two of the or more undervoltage lockouts; and

two or more DC/DC converters, each DC/DC converter connected to one of the undervoltage lockouts, each DC/DC converter configured to convert a direct current signal of a predetermined voltage level to a direct current signal of a target voltage level, wherein the predetermined voltage level is different for at least two of the two or more DC/DC converters.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the switch channels is configured to receive the single direct current signal from the group circuit to which the switch channel is connected and provide a direct current signal to the switch bank of the switch channel, and wherein the MPPT of the switch channel is configured to select one of the two or more outputs of the switch bank to output the direct current signal received from the group circuit.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein each of the two or more outputs of the switch bank has an assigned voltage level, and wherein the MPPT selects one of the two or more outputs of the switch bank based on the assigned voltage level that maximizes power transfer through the rectifier.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein each of the two or more outputs of the switch bank has an assigned voltage level, and wherein the MPPT selects one of the two or more outputs of the switch bank based on one or more of a voltage of the single direct current signal from the group circuit and observed power transfer through each of the two or more outputs of the switch bank.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the switch circuits further comprises two or more switch channels comprising switch banks, the switch banks of the switch channels comprising the same number of outputs, and wherein the one of the switch circuits further comprises a number of outputs equal to the number of outputs of one of the switch banks.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the outputs of the switch bank of one of the two or more switch channels are each assigned a different voltage level, and wherein the outputs of the switch banks of the other of the two or more switch channels are assigned the same different voltage levels as the outputs of the switch bank of the one of the two or more switch channels.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein each of the number of outputs of the one of the switch circuits is assigned one of the different voltage levels, and wherein an output of the one of the switch circuits comprises the outputs of the switch banks of the two or more switch channels assigned the same one of the different voltage levels as the output of the one of the rectifier circuits.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein one of the two or more capacitors is connected to one output from each of two or more switch circuits, and wherein each of the outputs has the same assigned one of the different voltage levels.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein one of the two more undervoltage lockouts is connected to the one of the two or more capacitors, and wherein the undervoltage lockout is further connected to one of the two or more DC/DC converters.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the one of the two or more undervoltage lockouts is configured to disconnect its output into the one of the two or more DC/DC converters when a voltage level of a direct current signal input to the one of the two or more undervoltage lockouts drops below the predetermined threshold, and wherein the predetermined threshold is based on the one of the different voltage levels assigned to the outputs of the switch circuits connected to the one of the two or more capacitors.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the one of the two or more DC/DC converters is configured to convert a direct current signal of the predetermined voltage level to a direct current signal of the target voltage level, wherein the predetermined voltage level is based on the one of the different voltage levels assigned to the outputs of the switch circuits connected to the one of the two or more capacitors.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the power generating mechanism comprises a transducer array, and wherein the power generating elements comprise transducers.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the transducer array is an ultrasonic transducer array, and wherein the transducers are ultrasonic transducers.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more rectifier circuits is connected to a single power generating element.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the diode of one of the rectifier circuits is connected to an output of the rectifier of the one of the rectifier circuits.

16. The device of claim 1, each group circuit connecting a group of rectifier circuits in an electrical circuit to combine the direct current signals from the rectifier circuits in the group into a single direct current signal connects the group of rectifier circuits in either parallel or in series.