Far-field RF power extraction circuits and systems

• US 7,167,090 B1
• Filed: 09/17/2004
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Mandal, Soumyajit, Sarpeshkar, Rahul
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/944,676
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 340/505, 340/538.14, 340/538.15, 340/538.16, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/645, 343/741, 343/866, 607/61, 329/341, 329/370, 235/375, 235/380
• US Class Current: 340/538.14
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2225 used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/248 provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/28 Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/27 characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/219 in a bridge configuration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes

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.

Claims

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.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the antenna comprises at least one of a loop antenna, a dipole antenna, a bowtie antenna or a fractal antenna.

3. The circuit of claim 1 wherein

the at least one circuit element having a nonlinear capacitive characteristic comprises a non-linear capacitor.

4. The far-field power extraction circuit of claim 3 wherein the nonlinear capacitor is a varactor.

5. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the switched rectifier comprises:

a first P-type Metal Oxide Semiconductor (PMOS) switch; and

a second PMOS switch wherein the nonlinear capacitor is coupled to an RF source, a first lead of the nonlinear capacitor is coupled to a source of the first PMOS switch and coupled to a gate of the second PMOS switch, a second lead of the nonlinear capacitor is coupled to a gate of the first PMOS switch and a drain of the second PMOS switch and wherein a drain of the first PMOS switch is coupled to a source of the second PMOS switch and to a load capacitor.

6. The circuit of claim 5, further comprising a first N-type Metal Oxide Semiconductor (NMOS) switch coupled in parallel to the first PMOS Switch and a second NMOS switch coupled in parallel with the second PMOS switch.

7. A far-field power extraction circuit comprising:

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.

8. The circuit of claim 7, further comprising a feedback tuning network coupled between the impedance matching network and the output voltage.

9. The circuit of claim 8 wherein the feedback tuning circuit comprises:

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 wherein the integrator is coupled to the predictor and to the first and second varactors;

wherein said first and second varactors are coupled to the antenna; and

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.

10. The circuit of claim 9 wherein the slope detector comprises:

a PMOS device having a source coupled to the output of said switched rectifier, a gate coupled to the clock generator and a drain;

a storage capacitor coupled between the drain of the PMOS device and a reference ground;

a buffer having a first input coupled to the output of said switched rectifier and a second input

coupled to the storage capacitor, the buffer providing a first buffer output and a second buffer output;

a comparator receiving said first buffer output and the second buffer output and providing a comparator output; and

a latch receiving the output of the comparator and a clock input, the buffer providing a slope detector output.

11. The circuit of claim 9 wherein the predictor comprises:

a latch receiving a clock input and a data input and providing a latch output;

an exclusive-or gate receiving the latch output at a first input, receiving a slope detector output at a second output and providing a predictor output at the output and wherein the predictor output is coupled to the data input of the latch.

12. The circuit of claim 9 wherein the integrator comprises:

a first PMOS device receiving a positive bias voltage at a gate, having a source coupled to a reference voltage and providing an output at a drain;

a second PMOS device having a source coupled to the drain of the first PMOS device, a gate coupled to an output of the predictor and a drain providing an output of the integrator;

a first NMOS device receiving a negative bias voltage at a gate, having a source couple dot a reference ground and providing an output at a drain;

a second NMOS device having a source coupled to the first NMOS device, a gate coupled to an output of said predictor and a drain providing an output of the integrator.

13. The circuit of claim 9 wherein the first varactor comprises a PMOS device having a source and a drain coupled together and to the output of said integrator and having a gate coupled to said antenna.

14. The circuit of claim 9 wherein the second varactor comprises PMOS device having a source and a drain coupled together and to the output of the integrator and having a gate coupled to the antenna.

15. The circuit of claim 7 wherein the antenna and impedance matching network are responsive to radio frequency signals having a frequency of about 900 MHz.

16. The circuit of claim 7 wherein the transmission line segments have exponentially tapering cut-off frequencies.

17. The circuit of claim 7 wherein the impedance matching network comprises at least one inductor coupled between the antenna and the remainder of the power extraction system.

18. A far-field power extraction circuit comprising:

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.

19. The circuit of claim 18 wherein the charge pump is coupled to a positive output of the switched rectifier.

20. The circuit of claim 18 wherein the charge pump is coupled to a negative output of the switched rectifier.

21. The circuit of claim 18 wherein the charge pump comprises:

a first pump capacitor, wherein a gate of the first NMOS switch is coupled to a drain of the second NMOS switch, a gate of the first PMOS switch, a source of the second PMOS switch, and to a first lead of the first pump capacitor; and

wherein a second lead of the first pump capacitor is coupled to a first reference signal; and

a second pump capacitor wherein a gate of the second NMOS switch is coupled to a drain of the first NMOS switch, a gate of the second PMOS switch, a source of the first PMOS switch, and to a first lead of the second pump capacitor;

wherein a second lead of the second pump capacitor is coupled to a second reference signal.

22. 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 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.

23. 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 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.

24. A far-field power extraction circuit comprising:

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; and

a 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.

25. A far-field power extraction circuit comprising:

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.