US 8,461,817 B2Granted

Method and apparatus for providing wireless power to a load device

AssigneePowercast Corporation

InventorsDonald Corey Martin, Charles E. Greene, Philip Victor Pesavento

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Abstract

An apparatus includes a first converter module, a second converter module, and a sensor module. The first converter module converts a wireless power associated with an electromagnetic wave to a first DC voltage. The first converter module can include, for example, a Villiard cascade voltage multiplier, a precision rectifier, or a full-wave bridge rectifier. The sensor module monitors the first DC voltage. The second converter module converts the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage that is larger than the first DC voltage. The second converter module is enabled by the sensor module when the first DC voltage is above a first threshold voltage. The second converter module is disabled by the sensor module when the first DC voltage is below a second threshold voltage that is lower than the first threshold voltage. The second converter module provides power to a load based on the second DC voltage.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

a first converter module configured to convert a wireless power associated with an electromagnetic wave to a first DC voltage;
a sensor module configured to monitor the first DC voltage, the sensor module configured to produce an output associated with the first DC voltage, the sensor module configured to maintain the first DC voltage between a first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage;
and
a second converter module configured to convert the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage larger than the first DC voltage, the second converter module configured to be enabled by the output from the sensor module when the first DC voltage is above the first threshold voltage, the second converter module configured to be disabled by the output from the sensor module when the first DC voltage is below the second threshold voltage lower than the first threshold voltage, the second converter module configured to provide power to a load device based on the second DC voltage;
an antenna configured to receive the electromagnetic wave;
and
an impedance matching module configured to substantially match an impedance of the first converter module and an impedance of the antenna over a frequency range including a center frequency associated with the electromagnetic wave, when the first DC voltage is maintained between the first threshold voltage and the second threshold voltage.

4 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a first storage device;
a second storage device;
a converter module configured to convert a wireless power received via an antenna to a DC voltage;
and
a switch module having a first configuration and a second configuration, the switch module configured to couple the converter module to the first storage device when in the first configuration, the switch module configured to couple the converter module to the second storage device when in the second configuration;
the first storage device configured to store a charge associated with the DC voltage from the converter module when the first storage device is coupled to the converter module via the switch module, the second storage device configured to store a charge associated with the DC voltage from the converter module when the second storage device is coupled to the converter module via the switch module, the first storage device and the second storage device collectively configured to charge a load device.

3 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a first storage device;
a second storage device;
a converter module configured to convert a wireless power received via an antenna to a DC voltage;
and
a switch module having a first configuration and a second configuration, the switch module configured to couple the first storage device, the second storage device, and the converter module in a parallel configuration when in the first configuration, the switch module configured to couple the first storage device, the second storage device, and a load in a series configuration when in the second configuration;
the first storage device configured to store a charge associated with the DC voltage from the converter module when the first storage device is coupled to the converter module via the switch module, the second storage device configured to store a charge associated with the DC voltage from the converter module when the second storage device is coupled to the converter module via the switch module, the first storage device and the second storage device collectively configured to charge the load device when the first storage device and the second storage device are coupled to the load device via the switch module.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/208,031Filed 10 Sep 2008 · us provisional application
Priority: 11 Sep 2007
Published: US 2009/0067208 A112 Mar 2009
Granted: 11 Jun 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H02J 50/001
Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power: energy harvesting or scavenging
H02J 7/933
Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage: the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
H02J 50/20
Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power: using microwaves or radio frequency waves
H02M 1/007
Converter structures employing plural converter units, other than for parallel operation of the units on a single load: plural converter units in…