High power rectenna array

A wireless power rectifying system comprising:

• N boards each comprising on a first side thereof an array of antenna elements, and an array of rectifying circuits each associated with a different one of the antenna elements and adapted to convert an RF signal received by the associated antenna element to a DC voltage, wherein the N boards are arranged in parallel to form a stack, wherein a distance d1 between first and second of the N boards positioned near a center of the stack is smaller than a distance d2 between third and fourth of the N boards positioned away from the center of the stack, and wherein the distance d2 is smaller than a distance d3 between fifth and sixth of the N boards positioned near either ends of the stack.

A wireless power rectifying system comprising:

• a plurality of boards each comprising an array of antenna elements, and an array of rectifying circuits each associated with a different one of the antenna elements and adapted to convert an RF signal received by the associated antenna element to a DC voltage, wherein the RF signal has a wavelength λ, wherein a spacing between each pair of adjacent boards is in a range defined by (λ/20) to (λ/2).

A wireless power rectifying system comprising:

• a first plurality of boards each comprising an array of antenna elements, and an array of rectifying circuits each associated with a different one of the antenna elements and adapted to convert an RF signal received by the associated antenna element to DC voltage, wherein the first plurality of boards is arranged in parallel along a first axis;
• and
• a second plurality of boards each comprising an array of antenna elements, and an array of rectifying circuits each associated with a different one of the antenna elements of the second plurality of boards and adapted to convert an RF signal received by the associated antenna element to DC voltage, wherein the second plurality of boards is arranged in parallel along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) comprising a plurality of boards each comprising an array of antenna elements and an array of rectifying circuits each associated with a different one of the antenna elements and adapted to convert an RF signal received by the associated antenna element to DC voltage.

A method comprising:

• receiving an RF signal via a plurality of boards, each board comprising on a first side thereof an array of antenna elements and an array of rectifying circuits each associated with a different one of the array of antenna elements, wherein the RF signal has a wavelength λ, wherein each of the rectifying circuits is housed in a package having a height H, wherein a distance between a first one of the plurality of boards and a second one of the plurality is in a range defined by (H+λ/20) to (H+λ/2);
• and
• converting, via each array of the rectifying circuits, the RF signal received by the rectifying circuit's associated array of antenna elements to DC voltage.

A method comprising:

• receiving an RF signal via a plurality of boards, each board comprising on a first side thereof an array of antenna elements and an array of rectifying circuits each associated with a different one of the array of antenna elements, wherein the RF signal has a wavelength λ, wherein a distance between a first one of the plurality of boards and a second one of the plurality is in a range defined by (λ/20) to (λ/2);
• and
• converting, via each array of the rectifying circuits, the RF signal received by the rectifying circuit's associated array of antenna elements to DC voltage.

A method of wirelessly powering an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:

• receiving an RF signals via a plurality of boards disposed on the UAV, each board comprising an array of antenna elements and an array of rectifying circuits each associated with a different one of the array of antenna elements;
• converting, via each array of the rectifying circuits, the RF signal received by the rectifying circuit's associated array of antenna element to DC voltage.