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US 9,437,629 B1Granted
Rectenna that converts infrared radiation to electrical energy
AssigneeSandia Corporation
InventorsPaul Davids, David W. Peters
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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 conductive layer, wherein the conductive layer comprises a plurality of ridges;
- and
- an insulator layer positioned between the nanoantenna and the conductive layer.
1 more element
A method for forming a rectenna, the method comprising:
- forming a conductive layer, wherein the conductive layer comprises a plurality of ridges;
- forming an insulator layer on the conductive layer;
- forming a nanoantenna on the insulator layer, the tunnel diode formed based upon the insulator layer being positioned between the conductive layer and the nanoantenna;
- and
- integrating the nanoantenna with a tunnel diode, the rectenna configured to convert infrared (IR) radiation into direct current (DC) energy.
2 more elements
A rectenna comprising:
- a nanoantenna, wherein the nanoantenna comprises a plurality of spaced-apart bars;
- 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;
- a silicon oxide layer between each spaced-apart bar of the plurality of spaced apart bars.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.