Hot RF rectifiers for RFID applications
AssigneeImpinj, Inc.
InventorsCharles Peach, Jay Kuhn, John Hyde
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag integrated circuit (IC) includes a power rectifier component. The rectifier component includes a first current path formed by a first rectifying element, a second rectifying element, and a pump node coupled to the first and second rectifying elements. The first and second rectifying elements are coupled to a first phase of a radio frequency (RF) waveform while the pump node is coupled to a second phase of the RF waveform. The rectifier component also includes at least one biasing element coupled to the pump node and configured such that its terminal voltages vary with phases and amplitudes similar to that of the second phase of the RF waveform.
Claims20
A power rectifier stage for a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC), the rectifier stage comprising:
- a first rectifying element coupled to a first phase of a radio frequency (RF) waveform;
- a pump node coupled to a second phase of the RF waveform and the first rectifying element;
- a second rectifying element coupled to the first phase of the RF waveform and the pump node;
- and
- a first biasing element coupled to the pump node and having a plurality of terminal voltages, wherein:
- the first rectifying element, the pump node, and the second rectifying element form a first current path;
- and
- every terminal voltage of the first biasing element varies with a phase and amplitude similar to a phase and amplitude of the second phase of the RF waveform.
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) integrated circuit (IC), the IC comprising:
- a first rectifier stage including:
- a first rectifying element coupled to a first phase of a radio frequency (RF) waveform;
- a pump node coupled to a second phase of the RF waveform and the first rectifying element;
- a second rectifying element coupled to the first phase of the RF waveform and the pump node;
- and
- a first biasing element coupled to the pump node and having a plurality of terminal voltages, wherein:
- the first rectifying element, the pump node, and the second rectifying element form a first current path;
- and
- every terminal voltage of the first biasing element varies with a phase and amplitude similar to a phase and amplitude of the second phase of the RF waveform.
A method for a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) rectifier to rectify radio frequency (RF) waveforms, the method comprising:
- receiving an RF waveform;
- and
- generating a first current in a first current path by:
- coupling a first rectifying element in the first current path to a first phase of the RF waveform;
- coupling a pump node in the first current path to a second phase of the RF waveform and the first rectifying element;
- coupling a second rectifying element in the first current path to the first phase of the RF waveform and the pump node;
- and
- biasing the pump node using a first biasing element coupled to the pump node and having a plurality of terminal voltages, wherein every terminal voltage varies with a phase and amplitude similar to a phase and amplitude of the second phase of the RF waveform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.