RFID tag rectifiers with bias current reuse
AssigneeImpinj, Inc.
InventorsCharles J. T. Peach, John D. Hyde, Jay A. Kuhn, Theron Stanford, Amita Patil
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments are directed to rectifiers using a single bias current or bias current path to bias multiple rectifying elements. A rectifier that has multiple rectifier stages coupled together serially includes a bias current path coupled to each of the rectifier stages. Thee bias current path is configured to simultaneously bias rectifying elements in each of the rectifier stages by using a bias current to bias a first rectifying element and reusing the bias current to bias other rectifying elements.
Claims20
A rectifier for a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC), the rectifier comprising:
- a plurality of rectifier stages, each rectifier stage having at least one rectifying element, the rectifying elements in the rectifier stages forming a main current path of the rectifier;
- and
- a bias current path different from the main current path and configured to direct a single bias current to simultaneously bias a respective rectifying element of each of the rectifier stages of the plurality of rectifier stages by using the single bias current to at least partly current-bias a first rectifying element in a first rectifier stage of the plurality of rectifier stages and reusing the single bias current to voltage-bias at least a second rectifying element in at least a second rectifier stage of the plurality of rectifier stages.
A method to bias a rectifier having a plurality of rectifier stages coupled together serially, the method comprising:
- providing, through a main current path of the rectifier, a main current to at least one rectifying element of each rectifier stage of the plurality of rectifier stages, wherein rectifying elements in the plurality of rectifier stages form the main current path of the rectifier;
- and
- providing, through a bias current path different from the main current path, a first bias current to simultaneously bias a respective rectifying element of each of the plurality of rectifier stages by using the first bias current to at least partly current-bias a first rectifying element in a first rectifier stage of the plurality of rectifier stages and reusing the first bias current to voltage-bias at least a second rectifying element in at least a second rectifier stage of the plurality of rectifier stages.
A rectifier comprising:
- at least three rectifier stages, each of the rectifier stages having at least one rectifying element, the rectifying elements in the at least three rectifier stages forming at least part of a main current path of the rectifier;
- and
- a bias current path different from the main current path and configured to direct a single bias current to simultaneously bias a respective rectifying element of each of the at least three rectifier stages by using the single bias current to at least partly current-bias a first rectifying element in a first rectifier stage of the plurality of rectifier stages and reusing the single bias current to voltage-bias at least a second rectifying element in at least a second rectifier stage of the plurality of rectifier stages.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.