US 9,806,564 B2Granted

Integrated rectifier and boost converter for wireless power transmission

AssigneeEnergous Corporation

InventorMichael Leabman

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Abstract

A novel integrated rectifier and boost converter circuit architecture is disclosed. The rectifier architecture includes a plurality of identical half-bridge rectifiers connected to receiving antennas to convert wireless AC power into DC power. The integrated rectifier may be coupled in series with a charging inductor in a boost converter. The inductor may discharge upon operation of two micro-controller-driven switching transistors using predetermined threshold and timing scheme to turn on/off. The rectifier architecture may provide high power densities, improve efficiency at larger load currents, and may be enabled in an integrated circuit with eight RF signal inputs, eight half-bridge rectifiers, and eight DC outputs ganged together as single feed into the boost converter. The rectifier circuit topology may include a comparator driven by the boost controller with a proprietary algorithm which suits control for a maximum power point tracking functionality, and an external micro-controller for additional control of the boost converter.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A receiver for providing power to a load, comprising:

a plurality of rectifiers, each connected to a common node and to a respective one of a plurality of antennas, wherein each antenna of the plurality of antennas is configured to convert electromagnetic energy from radio-frequency (RF) waves transmitted by a remote transmitter into alternating current (AC) voltage, and wherein each of the plurality of rectifiers is configured to:
convert the AC voltage received from one of the plurality of antennas to a direct current (DC) voltage;
and
provide the DC voltage to the common node, wherein a first DC voltage is provided at the common node;
and
a boost converter for increasing the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage, the boost converter comprising:
(i) an inductor operatively coupled to the common node and configured for receiving the first DC voltage and for providing the second DC voltage to an output terminal of the boost converter;
(ii) a microcontroller configured for controlling an amount of increase in voltage, provided from the inductor to the output terminal, from the first DC voltage to the second DC voltage;
and
(iii) a comparator operatively coupled to the microcontroller and the common node, the comparator configured for comparing the first DC voltage provided at the common node with a reference voltage generated at the microcontroller,
wherein the microcontroller controls the amount of increase in voltage based on a comparison of the first DC voltage with the reference voltage performed by the comparator.

8 more elements

A method for providing power in a receiver to a load, comprising:

at the receiver including a plurality of antennas, a plurality of rectifiers, a common node, and a boost converter having an inductor, a microcontroller, and a comparator operatively coupled to the common node and the microcontroller:
converting, by each of the plurality of antennas, electromagnetic energy from radio-frequency (RF) waves transmitted by a remote transmitter into alternating current (AC) voltage;
converting, by each of the plurality of rectifiers, AC voltage from one of the plurality of antennas to direct current (DC) voltage, each rectifier of the plurality of rectifiers respectively coupled to the common node and to one of the plurality of antennas;
providing DC voltage from each of the plurality of rectifiers to the common node, wherein a first DC voltage is provided at the common node;
comparing, by the comparator, the first DC voltage provided at the common node with a reference voltage generated at the microcontroller;
increasing the first DC voltage from the common node to a second DC voltage via the boost converter, wherein the inductor is operatively coupled to the common node for receiving the first DC voltage and for providing the second DC voltage to an output terminal of the boost converter;
and
controlling, by the microcontroller, an amount of increase in voltage, provided to the output terminal by the inductor, from the first DC voltage to the second DC voltage, based on the comparison of the first DC voltage with the reference voltage performed by the comparator.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/272,287Filed 7 May 2014
Published: US 2015/0326142 A112 Nov 2015
Granted: 31 Oct 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

H02J 50/20
Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power: using microwaves or radio frequency waves
H02J 50/80
Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power: involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or…
H02M 3/156
Using semiconductor devices only: with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators
H02M 7/06
By static converters: using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode