# US 2018/0323498 A1 · Electromagnetic energy harvesting devices and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0323498 A1 - Document ID: US20180323498A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/584,210 - Filed: 2017-05-02 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-02 - Inventors: Richard A. Bean - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180323498A1 ## CPC - H01Q 1/248: {provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas} - H02J 50/001: {Energy harvesting or scavenging} - H02J 50/20: using microwaves or radio frequency waves - H02J 50/27: characterised by the type of receiving antennas, e.g. rectennas - H01Q 9/16: with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole (H01Q9/44 takes precedence) - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY ## Abstract An electromagnetic energy harvesting device includes an emitting body at least partially embedded within a dielectric medium, and a receiving antenna disposed in proximity to the emitting body, where the receiving antenna is configured to collect thermal electromagnetic energy emitted by the emitting body. The device also includes a rectifier electrically coupled to the receiving antenna, where the rectifier is configured to convert the thermal electromagnetic energy to direct current electrical energy. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electromagnetic energy harvesting device comprising: an emitting body at least partially embedded within a dielectric medium; a receiving antenna disposed in proximity to the emitting body, the receiving antenna configured to collect thermal electromagnetic energy emitted by the emitting body; and a rectifier electrically coupled to the receiving antenna, the rectifier configured to convert the thermal electromagnetic energy to direct current electrical energy. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electromagnetic energy harvesting device of claim 1, further comprising a filter electrically coupled between the receiving antenna and the rectifier. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electromagnetic energy harvesting device of claim 2, wherein the filter is a tunable filter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electromagnetic energy harvesting device of claim 3, further comprising a controller communicatively coupled to the filter and configured to control at a frequency range associated with the filter and at least one of monitor or alter at least one of a temperature of the emitting body, a dynamic energy fluctuation associated with the electromagnetic energy harvesting device, and a demand associated with the load. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electromagnetic energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the rectifier is at least one of a Schottky diode, a metal-insulator-metal diode, a tunnel diode, or a passive intermodulation device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electromagnetic energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the receiving antenna comprises at least one of a monopole antenna, a dipole antenna, a rectangular microstrip antenna, and a waveguide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electromagnetic energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein receiving antenna comprises an overmode waveguide. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electromagnetic energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the receiving antenna is configured to collect thermal electromagnetic energy in a frequency range of 300 Megahertz to 300 Gigahertz. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electromagnetic energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the receiving antenna is configured to collect thermal electromagnetic energy in a frequency range of 300 Gigahertz to 20 Terahertz. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electromagnetic energy harvesting device of claim 1, wherein the emitting body is configured to absorb electromagnetic energy focused on the emitting body by a reflecting element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electromagnetic energy harvesting device of claim 1, further comprising an impedance matching circuit configured to at least one of: (a) match an impedance between the filter and the rectifier; or (b) mismatch an impedance between the filter and the rectifier, wherein the impedance matching circuit is configured to mismatch the impedance between the filter and the rectifier to safeguard the rectifier from an overcurrent or overvoltage condition. ### Claim 12 An electromagnetic energy harvesting device comprising: a first portion comprising: a first emitting body; a first receiving antenna configured to collect thermal electromagnetic energy emitted by the first emitting body; and a first rectifier electrically coupled to the first receiving antenna, the first rectifier configured to convert the thermal electromagnetic energy emitted by the first emitting body to direct current electrical energy; and a second portion comprising: at least one of a second emitting body or an opposite surface of the first emitting body; a second receiving antenna configured to collect thermal electromagnetic energy emitted by the second emitting body; and a second rectifier electrically coupled to the second receiving antenna, the second rectifier configured to convert the thermal electromagnetic energy emitted by the second emitting body to direct current electrical energy. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electromagnetic energy harvesting device of claim 12, wherein the first portion and the second portion are stacked. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The electromagnetic energy harvesting device of claim 12, further comprising: a first filter electrically coupled between the first receiving antenna and the first rectifier; and a second filter electrically coupled between the second receiving antenna and the second rectifier. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The electromagnetic energy harvesting device of claim 12, wherein the first emitting body is at least partially embedded in a first dielectric medium, and wherein the second emitting body is at least partially embedded in a second dielectric medium. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The electromagnetic energy harvesting device of claim 12, wherein the first receiving antenna comprises at least one of a monopole antenna, a dipole antenna, a rectangular microstrip antenna, and a waveguide, and wherein the second receiving antenna comprises at least one of a monopole antenna, a dipole antenna, a rectangular microstrip antenna, and a waveguide. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The electromagnetic energy harvesting device of claim 12, wherein the first receiving antenna is an overmode waveguide, and wherein the second receiving antenna is an overmode waveguide. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The electromagnetic energy harvesting device of claim 12, wherein the first portion and the second portion are electrically coupled in one of parallel and series. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The electromagnetic energy harvesting device of claim 12, wherein the first receiving antenna is configured to collect thermal electromagnetic energy in a frequency range of 300 Megahertz to 300 Gigahertz, and wherein the second receiving antenna is configured to collect thermal electromagnetic energy in a frequency range of 300 Gigahertz to 20 Terahertz. ### Claim 20 A method for harvesting electromagnetic energy, the method comprising: providing an electromagnetic energy harvesting device comprising: an emitting body at least partially embedded within a dielectric medium; a receiving antenna disposed in proximity to the emitting body; and a rectifier electrically coupled to the receiving antenna; collecting thermal electromagnetic energy at the receiving antenna; and converting the thermal electromagnetic energy to direct current electrical energy at the rectifier. ### Claim 21 An electromagnetic energy harvesting device comprising: a receiving antenna configured to collect thermal electromagnetic energy emitted by an emitting body; a reflecting element coupled to the receiving antenna; and a rectifier electrically coupled to the receiving antenna, the rectifier configured to convert the thermal electromagnetic energy to direct current electrical energy.