# US 10,873,215 B2 · Resonant regulating rectifier with an integrated antenna > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,215 B2 - Document ID: US10873215B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/736,239 - Filed: 2016-06-15 - Published: 2018-07-05 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-15 - Assignees: The Regents of the University of California - Applicants: The Regents Of The University Of California - Inventors: Chul Kim; Gert Cauwenberghs; Patrick P. Mercier; Sohmyung Ha; Jiwoong Park; Abraham Akinin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873215B2 ## CPC - H02J 50/12: of the resonant type - H02M 3/156: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators - H02M 3/335: using semiconductor devices only - H02M 7/217: using semiconductor devices only - H03B 5/1206: {using multiple transistors for amplification} - H03B 5/1212: {the amplifier comprising a pair of transistors, wherein an output terminal of each being connected to an input terminal of the other, e.g. a cross coupled pair} - H03B 5/1228: {the amplifier comprising one or more field effect transistors} - H03B 27/00: Generation of oscillations providing a plurality of outputs of the same frequency but differing in phase, other than merely two anti-phase outputs - 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 - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - H03B: GENERATION OF OSCILLATIONS, DIRECTLY OR BY FREQUENCY-CHANGING, BY CIRCUITS EMPLOYING ACTIVE ELEMENTS WHICH OPERATE IN A NON-SWITCHING MANNER; GENERATION OF NOISE BY SUCH CIRCUITS (generators adapted for electrophonic musical instruments G10H; masers or lasers H01S; generation of oscillations in plasma H05H) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract An apparatus for wireless power transfer is described. In some implementations, the apparatus includes a resonant circuit configured to receive a radio frequency input and generate an in-phase voltage and an out-of-phase voltage. The apparatus further includes a pulse generation circuit configured to at least gate the in-phase voltage to provide a first output voltage, and gate the out-of-phase voltage to provide a second output voltage. The apparatus further includes a pulse width modulation circuit configured to provide, to the pulse generating circuit, information for controlling the pulse width modulation setting. The apparatus further includes a pulse frequency modulation circuit configured to provide, to the pulse generating circuit, information for controlling the pulse frequency modulation setting, the information for controlling the pulse frequency modulation setting determined based on the pulse width modulation setting. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a resonant circuit configured to receive a radio frequency input from a wireless power transmitter and generate an in-phase voltage and an out-of-phase voltage; a pulse generation circuit coupled to the resonant circuit, the pulse generator circuit configured to at least: gate the in-phase voltage to provide a first output voltage, and gate the out-of-phase voltage to provide a second output voltage, the gating of the in-phase voltage and the gating of the out-of-phase voltage controlled by a pulse width modulation setting and a pulse frequency modulation setting; a pulse width modulation circuit configured to provide, to the pulse generating circuit, information for controlling the pulse width modulation setting; and a pulse frequency modulation circuit configured to provide, to the pulse generating circuit, information for controlling the pulse frequency modulation setting, the information for controlling the pulse frequency modulation setting determined based on the pulse width modulation setting. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pulse generation circuit comprises a first transistor operatively coupled to the in-phase voltage and a second transistor operatively coupled to the out-phase voltage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pulse generation circuit operates the first transistor based at least in part upon the pulse width modulation setting, the pulse frequency modulation setting, and the in-phase voltage, and wherein the pulse generation circuit operates the second transistor based at least in part upon the pulse width modulation setting, the pulse frequency modulation setting, and the out-phase voltage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pulse width modulation circuit comprises an amplifier circuit, wherein the amplifier compares a voltage divided result of the first output voltage or the second output voltage against a reference voltage to generate an analog control signal, and wherein the information for controlling the pulse width modulation setting comprises the analog control. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first output voltage and the second output voltage occur sequentially in time and enable providing a source of power, and wherein the source of power comprises a low-voltage direct current that is regulated. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pulse frequency modulation circuit comprises a clock generation circuit for providing the information for controlling the pulse frequency modulation as a digital signal, wherein the pulse frequency modulation circuit further comprises a bidirectional shift register for controlling the clock generation circuit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pulse frequency modulation circuit comprises a first latch circuit for determining whether the pulse width modulation setting is at an upper threshold, wherein the pulse frequency modulation circuit further comprises a second latch circuit for determining whether the pulse width modulation setting is at a lower threshold, and wherein the pulse frequency modulation circuit further comprises a latch enabler circuit to selectively enable the first and second latch circuits. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pulse generation circuit comprises a comparator for comparing the in-phase voltage against the first output voltage or the second output voltage to generate a first signal for turning the pulse generation circuit on, and wherein the pulse generation circuit further comprises a latch circuit for comparing the first output voltage or the second output voltage against a ground signal to generate a second signal for turning the pulse generation circuit off. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a chip, wherein the resonant circuit comprises a loop coil antenna on the chip, and wherein a majority of wires on the chip other than the antenna do not form loops. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a mode arbiter which controls a current mode of a buck-boost circuit, wherein the buck-boost circuit regulates and rectifies the radio frequency input, and wherein the current mode comprises a boost mode, a buck mode, and a combined boost-buck mode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a feedback circuit for controlling a boost circuit, wherein the feedback circuit modifies at least a portion of the first output voltage or the second output voltage through operational transconductance amplification and proportional integral derivative to generate a control signal for turning the boost circuit off and on. ### Claim 12 A method comprising: receiving a radio frequency input from a wireless power transmitter; generating an in-phase voltage and an out-of-phase voltage; gating the in-phase voltage to provide a first output voltage, and gating the out-of-phase voltage to provide a second output voltage, the gating of the in-phase voltage and the gating of the out-of-phase voltage controlled by a pulse width modulation setting and a pulse frequency modulation setting; providing information for controlling the pulse width modulation setting; and providing information for controlling the pulse frequency modulation setting, the information for controlling the pulse frequency modulation setting determined based on the pulse width modulation setting. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the gating of the in-phase voltage and the gating of the out-of-phase voltage are controlled by a pulse generation circuit comprising a first transistor operatively coupled to the in-phase voltage and a second transistor operatively coupled to the out-phase voltage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: operating the first transistor based at least in part upon the pulse width modulation setting, the pulse frequency modulation setting, and the in-phase voltage; and operating the second transistor based at least in part upon the pulse width modulation setting, the pulse frequency modulation setting, and the out-phase voltage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the information for controlling the pulse width modulation setting is determined by a pulse width modulation circuit comprising an amplifier circuit, wherein the amplifier compares a voltage divided result of the first output voltage or the second output voltage against a reference voltage to generate an analog control signal, wherein the information for controlling the pulse width modulation setting comprises the analog control, wherein the first output voltage and the second output voltage occur sequentially in time and enable providing a source of power, and wherein the source of power comprises a low-voltage direct current that is regulated. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the information for controlling the pulse frequency modulation setting is determined by a pulse frequency modulation circuit comprising a clock generation circuit for providing the information for controlling the pulse frequency modulation as a digital signal, wherein the pulse frequency modulation circuit further comprises a bidirectional shift register for controlling the clock generation circuit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: determining whether the pulse width modulation setting is at an upper threshold; determining whether the pulse width modulation setting is at a lower threshold; comparing the in-phase voltage against the first output voltage or the second output voltage to generate a first signal for initiating the gating of the in-phase voltage and the gating of the out-of-phase voltage; and comparing the first output voltage or the second output voltage against a ground signal to terminate the gating of the in-phase voltage and the gating of the out-of-phase voltage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the method is performed by a chip, wherein the radio frequency input is received by a loop coil antenna on the chip, and wherein a majority of wires on the chip other than the antenna do not form loops. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: controlling a current mode of a buck-boost circuit, wherein the buck-boost circuit regulates and rectifies the radio frequency input, and wherein the current mode comprises a boost mode, a buck mode, and a combined boost-buck mode; and modifying at least a portion of the output voltage or the second output voltage through operational transconductance amplification and proportional integral derivative to generate a control signal for boosting the radio frequency input. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions which when executed by at least one controller causes operations comprising: receiving a radio frequency input from a wireless power transmitter; generating an in-phase voltage and an out-of-phase voltage; gating the in-phase voltage to provide a first output voltage, and gating the out-of-phase voltage to provide a second output voltage, the gating of the in-phase voltage and the gating of the out-of-phase voltage controlled by a pulse width modulation setting and a pulse frequency modulation setting; providing information for controlling the pulse width modulation setting; and providing information for controlling the pulse frequency modulation setting, the information for controlling the pulse frequency modulation setting determined based on the pulse width modulation setting.