Multiband energy harvesting

• US 10,700,557 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2017
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W.P. Energy (S.B. ) Ltd.
• Original Assignee: W.P. Energy (S.B. ) Ltd.
• Inventors: Barukh, Shlomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L
• Application Number:
  US16/310,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20190148985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/248 provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/30 the primary active element being centre-fed and substantially straight, e.g. Yagi antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0421 with a shorting wall or a shorting pin at one end of the element H01Q9/0414 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/06 using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/025 Impedance arrangements, e.g. impedance matching, reduction of parasitic impedance H05K1/024 and H05K1/0243 take precedence; for semiconductor devices H01L23/66

Abstract

Ambient RF EM energy harvesting generator and a corresponding method, including an antenna arrangement that receives and yields RF output, rectified by an RF to DC rectifier into DC output. The RF EM antenna arrangement includes at least one antenna module having an antenna triplet configured to absorb ambient RF radiation in first, second and third frequency ranges, respectively, and coupled with a compatible LC circuitry. The lowest frequency range is absorbed by an oscillation evoking antenna which induces oscillations between the other two antennas of the triplet. The rectifier includes, in addition to rectification circuitry, a capacitance matrix featuring an array of high frequency, high voltage, low-impedance, micro-capacitors, mounted in parallel and series, which is operative for transiently accumulating the rectified DC output of the rectification circuitry.

Claims

1. Ambient radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) energy harvesting generator, comprising:

(a) an antenna arrangement for receiving RF EM radiation and providing an RF output, comprising;

at least one antenna module configured to absorb ambient EM radiation for producing said RF output; and

(b) an RF to DC rectifier connected to said antenna arrangement for receiving said RF output and providing a rectified DC output, said rectifier comprises;

(i) a rectification circuitry for converting said RF output into an unstable rectified DC output; and

(ii) a capacitor matrix comprising an array of high frequency, high voltage, low-impedance, micro-capacitors (mounted in parallel and series) for transiently accumulating the charge received as said unstable rectified DC output of said rectification circuitry, and provide a non-regulated rectified DC output.

2. Ambient RF EM energy harvesting generator, comprising:

(a) an antenna arrangement for receiving RF EM radiation and providing an RF output, comprising;

at least one antenna module configured to absorb ambient EM radiation for producing said RF output, wherein said RF EM antenna module comprises;

(i) an upper frequency range (UFR) antenna configured to absorb ambient RF radiation in a first frequency range;

(ii) a lower frequency range (LFR) antenna configured to absorb ambient RF radiation in a second frequency range at least partially below said first frequency range;

(iii) an oscillation evoking antenna for inducing oscillations between said UFR antenna and said LFR antenna, said oscillation evoking antenna being configured to absorb ambient RF radiation in a third frequency range below said second frequency range; and

(iv) an LC circuitry comprising an inductor capacitor (LC) network responsive to resonances in said first, second and third frequency ranges, in which said UFR antenna, LFR antenna, and oscillation evoking antenna are connected, such that RF energy in said first, second and third frequency ranges is absorbed by said LC circuitry; and

(b) an RF to DC rectifier connected to said antenna arrangement for receiving said RF output and providing a rectified DC output.

3. Ambient RF EM energy harvesting generator as in claim 2, wherein LC network comprises an inductor element and a dual capacitor arrangement comprising an upper frequency range capacitor element for inducing resonance in said first frequency range, and a lower frequency range capacitor element for inducing resonance in said second frequency range, wherein the combination of said an upper frequency range capacitor and said lower frequency range capacitor is compatible for inducing resonance in said third frequency range, all being connected in parallel, and a diode element separating one branch connecting said two capacitor elements, wherein said UFR antenna and said LFR antenna are connected to a branch of said circuitry with one of said capacitor elements connected in between, and wherein said oscillation evoking antenna is connected to said circuitry between another of said capacitor elements and said inductor element.

4. Ambient RF EM energy harvesting generator as in claim 2, wherein said first frequency range is in the UF range of 1 GHz-6 GHz, said second frequency range is in the LF range of 40 MHz-3 GHz, and said third frequency range is in the VLF range of 50 Hz-1.5 GHz.

5. Ambient RF EM energy harvesting generator as in claim 2, wherein said antenna arrangement further comprises:

(v) an amplifier connected at the output to said antenna module for amplifying said RF output and providing an amplified RF output.

6. The ambient RF EM energy harvesting generator of claim 5, wherein said amplifier comprises an antenna amplification control configured to allocate the power source to said antenna module in a hierarchy including:

(a) an external charge source when such a source is plugged into the ambient RF EM energy harvesting generator;

(b) said rectified DC output (of said rectifier) when an internal storage is charged below a predetermined threshold; and

(c) said DC current feed (of an internal storage) when said internal storage is charged above a predetermined threshold.

7. The Ambient RF EM energy harvesting generator as in claim 2, wherein said antenna module further comprises:

(i) an UFR antenna comprising a plate of rectangular microstrip patch with cut out etched strips forming a crooked folded inverted conformed antenna (FICA) format, the dimensions of which are configured for disposing in a mobile cellular device;

(ii) an LFR antenna comprising a plate rectangular with cut out etched strips forming a planar inverted ‘

F’

antenna (PIFA) format, the dimensions of which are configured for disposing in a mobile cellular device;

wherein the UFR and the LFR antennas are disposed in parallel and are separated by a dielectric material; and

(iii) an oscillation evoking antenna comprising a wire, configured for disposing in a mobile cellular device.

8. The active antenna module of claim 7, comprising a double faced printed circuit board (PCB), wherein said UFR antenna is imprinted on one face thereof and said LFR antenna is imprinted on another face thereof, wherein said PCB comprises a two ply sandwiched dielectric substrate, wherein said UFR and LFR antennas are imprinted on external faces thereof and wherein further circuitry elements, including at least one coil, are imprinted on an internal face sandwiched between two plies of said dielectric substrate.

9. The active antenna module of claim 8, wherein:

(1) said LFR antenna comprises an array of parallel flat LFR stripes of 8.5-9 mm width and spaced apart by said cut out etched strips at 5 mm gaps, said stripes being perpendicularly connected at one end thereof by a sheer LFR stripe of same width; and

(2) said UFR antenna comprises an array of parallel flat UFR stripes of 6 mm width and spaced apart by said cut out etched strips at 2.5 mm gaps, each adjacent two of said UFR stripes being perpendicularly connected at alternating ends thereof by a sheer UFR stripe of same width.

10. Ambient RF EM energy harvesting system comprising the ambient RF EM energy harvesting generator of claim 2, further comprising, at least one of:

(c) a voltage stabilizer coupled with said rectifier for regulating said non-regulated rectified DC output into regulated DC output;

(d) an electric charge internal storage coupled with said active antenna arrangement for storing the charge provided by said generator, and for providing a DC feed, for feeding components of the system, and for charging an external host storage;

(e) a voltage regulator for regulating said a non-regulated rectified DC output of said rectification circuitry into a stabilized DC output;

(f) a voltage multiplier for providing an adequate voltage of said DC output to an external host; and

(g) a controller connected to said antenna arrangement, and said rectifier, said internal storage, and other components of said system, for managing and controlling the RF EM harvesting, the charging of said internal storage, the charging of an external host storage, the feeding of DC output to said antenna arrangement, said rectifier, said controller, and other system components and the feeding of an DC input from an external power source to any component of the system, when such a source is plugged into the system.

11. The ambient RF EM energy harvesting system of claim 10, wherein said controller is operative for allocating a power source to an external host storage, and the components of the EM energy harvesting charger in a hierarchy including:

(a) when an external charge source is plugged into the EM energy harvesting charger to feed the external charge source to said external host storage and all components of the EM energy harvesting charger, including said internal EM storage, as long as said external host storage and said internal EM storage are not full;

(b) to feed said rectified DC output of said rectifier when said internal storage is charged below a predetermined threshold value; and

(c) to feed said DC current feed of said internal storage when said internal storage is charged above a predetermined threshold value.

12. Ambient RF EM energy harvesting system comprising the ambient RF EM energy harvesting generator of claim 2, wherein at least one of said antennas comprises:

Yagi-Uda like antenna with director dipole elements distributed on at least one conducting material;

said Yagi-Uda like antenna manipulated in one fold;

said Yagi-Uda like antenna manipulated in multiple concertina folds;

said Yagi-Uda like antenna manipulated in multiple letter folds; and

said Yagi-Uda like antenna being wound.

13. A method for harvesting ambient RF EM energy comprising the procedures of:

(a) absorbing ambient EM radiation by at least one antenna arrangement that provides an RF output; and

(b) rectifying said RF output into a non-regulated DC output by an RF to DC rectifier, comprising the sub procedures of;

(i) converting said RF output into an unstable rectified DC output by a rectification circuitry; and

(ii) transiently accumulating, by a capacitance matrix comprising an array of high frequency, high voltage, low-impedance micro-capacitors mounted in parallel, the charge received as said unstable rectified DC output from said rectification circuitry, wherein the capacitors are sequentially charged in series and are discharged as a non-regulated rectified DC output.

14. A method for harvesting ambient RF EM energy comprising the procedures of:

(a) absorbing ambient EM radiation by at least one antenna arrangement operative for providing an RF output, comprising the sub-procedures of;

(i) absorbing an upper frequency range (UFR) of RF EM energy by an antenna configured to absorb ambient RF radiation in a first frequency range;

(ii) absorbing a lower frequency range (LFR) of RF EM energy by an antenna configured to absorb ambient RF radiation in a second frequency range below said first frequency range;

(iii) inducing oscillations between said UFR antenna and said LFR antenna by an oscillation evoking antenna configured to absorb ambient RF radiation in a third frequency range below said second frequency range; and

(iv) coupling said UFR antenna, said LFR antenna, and said oscillation evoking antenna with an LC circuitry comprising an inductor capacitor (LC) network responsive to resonances in said first, second and third frequency ranges, such that RF energy in said first, second and third frequency ranges is absorbed by said LC circuitry to provide said RF output; and

(b) rectifying said RF output by a rectification circuitry operative for converting said RF output into a non-regulated rectified DC output.

15. The method for harvesting ambient RF EM as in claim 14, wherein said first frequency range is in the UF range of 1 GHz to 6 GHz, said second frequency range is in the LF range of 40 MHz to 3 GHz, and said third frequency range is in the VLF range of 50 Hz to 1.5 GHz.

16. The method for harvesting ambient RF EM as in claim 14, wherein LC network comprises an inductor element and a dual capacitor arrangement comprising an upper frequency range capacitor element for inducing resonance in said first frequency range, and a lower frequency range capacitor element for inducing resonance in said second frequency range, wherein the combination of said an upper frequency range capacitor and said lower frequency range capacitor is compatible for inducing resonance in said third frequency range, all being connected in parallel, and a diode element separating one branch connecting said two capacitor elements, wherein said UFR antenna and said LFR antenna are connected to a branch of said circuitry with one of said capacitor elements connected in between, and wherein said oscillation evoking antenna is connected to said circuitry between another of said capacitor elements and said inductor element.

17. The method for harvesting ambient RF EM as in claim 14, wherein said procedure of absorbing ambient EM radiation for providing an RF output, further comprises the sub procedure of:

(v) amplifying said RF output by an amplifier operative for providing an amplified RF output.

18. The method for harvesting ambient RF EM as in claim 17, wherein said sub procedure of amplifying further comprises controlling said amplifying by an antenna amplification control configured to allocate the power source to said antenna module in a hierarchy including:

(a) an external charge source when such a source is available;

(b) said rectified DC output of said rectifier when an internal storage is charged below a predetermined threshold; and

(c) a DC feed of said internal storage, when said internal storage is charged above a predetermined threshold.

19. The method for harvesting ambient RF EM as in claim 14, further comprising, at least one of the following procedures:

(c) regulating said non-regulated rectified DC output into regulated DC output by a voltage stabilizer coupled with said rectifier;

(d) selectively storing the charge provided by said regulated DC output of said stabilizer in an electric charge internal storage coupled with said stabilizer and said antenna arrangement, and providing a DC feed for feeding said antenna arrangement, other components involved with said RF EM harvesting, and for charging an external host storage;

(e) regulating said non-regulated rectified DC output of said rectification circuitry into a stabilized DC output by a voltage regulator;

(f) providing an adequate voltage of said DC output to an external host by a voltage multiplier; and

(g) managing and controlling, by a controller connected to said antenna arrangement and said rectifier, at least one of;

said RF EM harvesting, the charging of an internal storage, the charging of an external host storage, the feeding of said antenna arrangement, said rectifier, and said controller, and the feeding of an external power source to any component of the RF EM harvesting system when such a source is available.

20. The method for harvesting ambient RF EM as in claim 19, wherein said procedure of managing and controlling comprises allocating a power source to an external host storage in a hierarchy including:

(a) selectively feeding, when an external charge source is available the external charge source input to an external host storage and all components of an EM energy harvesting charger, including an internal EM storage, as long as said external host storage and said internal EM storage are not full;

(b) selectively feeding said rectified DC output of said rectifier when an internal storage is charged below a predetermined threshold value; and

(c) selectively feeding a DC feed of an internal storage when said internal storage is charged above a predetermined threshold value.