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US 2016/0260755 A1Published application
Rectenna that converts infrared radiation to electrical energy
AssigneeSandia Corporation
InventorsPaul Davids, David W. Peters
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Technologies pertaining to converting infrared (IR) radiation to DC energy are described herein. In a general embodiment, a rectenna comprises a conductive layer. A thin insulator layer is formed on the conductive layer, and a nanoantenna is formed on the thin insulator layer. The thin insulator layer acts as a tunnel junction of a tunnel diode.
Claims20
A rectenna comprising:
- a nanoantenna that is integrated with a tunnel diode, wherein the rectenna converts infrared (IR) radiation incident upon the rectenna to direct current (DC) energy.
A method for forming a rectenna, the method comprising:
- integrating a nanoantenna with a tunnel diode, the rectenna configured to convert infrared (IR) radiation into direct current (DC) energy.
A rectenna comprising:
- a nanoantenna;
- a conductive layer;
- and
- an insulator layer positioned between the nanoantenna and the conductive layer, the nanoantenna, the conductive layer, and the insulator layer collectively forming at least one tunnel junction in the rectenna, the rectenna configured to convert infrared (IR) radiation into direct current (DC) energy.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.