EM rectifying antenna suitable for use in conjunction with a natural breakdown device

• US 7,649,496 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Guy Silver, Juinerong Wu
• Original Assignee: Guy Silver, Juinerong Wu
• Inventors: Wu, Juinerong, Silver, Guy
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens; Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUONG, DIEU HIEN
• Application Number:
  US10/963,357
• Time in Patent Office: 1,925 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/8618 Diodes with bulk potential barrier, e.g. Camel diodes, Planar Doped Barrier diodes, Graded bandgap diodes
• 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: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

A rectenna capable of power conversion from electromagnetic (EM) waves of high frequencies is provided. In one embodiment, a rectenna element generates currents from two sources—based upon the power of the incident EM wave and from an n-type semiconductor, or another electron source attached to a maximum voltage point of an antenna element. The combined current from both sources increases the power output of the antenna, thereby increasing the detection sensitivity of the antenna of a low power signal. Full wave rectification is achieved using a novel diode connected to a gap in the antenna element of an rectenna element. The diode is conductive at a zero bias voltage, and rectifies the antenna signal generated by the desired EM wave received by antenna. Further, the diode may provide a fixed output voltage regardless of the input signal level. The rectenna element of the present invention may be used as a building block to create large rectenna arrays.

Claims

1. A rectifying antenna comprising:

an antenna comprising a continuous conductive plate and having a first location, a second location, a third location and a fourth location on said continuous conductive plate, wherein voltages are induced at the first location and the third location by electromagnetic radiation;

a current source having a first portion connected to the first location of the antenna and a second portion connected to the third location of the antenna, wherein the current source provides a current to the antenna in response to the induced voltages at the first and third locations of the antenna; and

a first rectifier connected to the second location of the antenna and a second rectifier connected to the fourth location of the antenna such that the first rectifier and the second rectifier direct the current provided by the current source away from the antenna.

2. A rectifying antenna as in claim 1, wherein the first rectifier and the second rectifier operate under a reverse bias mode such that a majority of carriers in the current provided by the current source and in the current directed away from the antenna by the first rectifier are electrons.

3. A rectifying antenna as in claim 1, wherein the voltage at the first location of the antenna is opposite in polarity relative to the voltage at the third location of the antenna and the voltage at the second location on the antenna is opposite in polarity relative to the voltage at the fourth location.

4. A rectifying antenna as in claim 1, wherein the first rectifier or the second rectifier has a first region connected to the antenna such that the first region is completely depleted at zero bias.

5. A method for providing a rectifying antenna comprising:

providing an antenna comprising a continuous conductive plate and having a first location, a second location, a third location and a fourth location on said continuous conductive plate, wherein voltages are induced at the first location and the third location by electromagnetic radiation;

providing a current source having a first portion connected to the first location of the antenna and a second portion connected to the third location of the antenna, wherein the current source provides a current to the antenna in response to the induced voltages at the first and third locations of the antenna; and

providing a first rectifier connected to the second location of the antenna and a second rectifier connected to the fourth location of the antenna such that the first rectifier and the second rectifier direct the current provided by the current source away from the antenna.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein the first rectifier and the second rectifier operate under a reverse bias mode such that a majority of carriers in the current provided by the current source and in the current directed away from the antenna by the first rectifier and the second rectifier are electrons.

7. A method as in claim 5, wherein the voltage at the first location of the antenna is opposite in polarity relative to the voltage at the third location of the antenna and the voltage at the second location on the antenna is opposite in polarity relative to the voltage at the fourth location.