177 results about "Rectenna" patented technology

Exemplary systems and methods are provided for collecting / harvesting direct current (DC) power received from a power source(s). The system comprises a controlled impedance power controller comprises a power converter configured to present a positive equivalent resistive load to the at least one power source over a range of input power levels. Exemplary systems and methods are provided for collecting radio frequency (RF) power. An exemplary system comprises at least two rectenna elements, a power controller, and a DC combining circuit. The DC combining circuit is associated with the at least two rectenna elements and the DC combining circuit is configured to dynamically combine the at least two rectenna elements in one of a plurality of series / parallel configurations. The power controller is configured to control the DC combining circuit to achieve a desired overall power output from the at least two rectenna elements.

A system and method are described for powering a vehicle using radio frequency (“RF”) signals. For example, a method according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: positioning a plurality of RF generators beneath the road surface of a roadway, the RF generators configured to transmit RF signals in the direction of vehicles traveling over the roadway; coupling a rectenna on a vehicle, the rectenna configured to receive the RF signals transmitted from the RF generators and to generate power from the RF signals; and using the power generated by the rectenna to power the vehicle.

A system and method are described for powering a vehicle using radio frequency (“RF”) signals. For example, a method according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: positioning an antenna array beneath or on the road surface of a roadway, the antenna array configured to transmit RF signals responsive to RF processing logic and / or circuitry; coupling a rectenna array to a vehicle, the rectenna array configured to receive the RF signals transmitted from the antenna array and to generate power from the RF signals; providing feedback signals from the vehicle to the RF processing logic and / or circuitry, the feedback signals including channel state information (CSI) defining a current state of the channels between the antenna array and the rectenna array, the RF processing logic and / or circuitry using the channel state information to adjust the RF signal transmissions from the antenna array to improve the efficiency of the power generated by the rectenna array; and using the power generated by the rectenna array to power the vehicle.

The wireless power transmission is a system for providing wireless charging and / or primary power to electronic / electrical devices via microwave energy. The microwave energy is focused onto a device to be charged by a power transmitter having one or more adaptively-phased microwave array emitters. Rectennas within the device to be charged receive and rectify the microwave energy and use it for battery charging and / or for primary power. A communications channel is opened between the wireless power source and the device to be charged. The device to be charged reports to the power source via the channel a received beam signal strength at the rectennas. This information is used by the system to adjust the transmitting phases of the microwave array emitters until a maximum microwave energy is reported by the device to be charged. Backscatter is minimized by physically configuring the microwave array emitters in a substantially non-uniform, non-coplanar manner.

A wireless power transfer system includes: a plurality of power transmitters, each of which transmits a microwave; and a rectenna base station which receives the microwave to generate power. The rectenna base station includes: a rectenna; and control section which specifies an identification code for identifying each power transmitter and generates a command signal to change a phase of the power transmitter specified by identification code so as to increase a power value received at the rectenna. Each of the power transmitters comprises: a plurality of transmission antenna elements, each of which transmits the microwave to the rectenna base station; and a phase controller which makes phase change of the microwave based on the command signal from the phase monitor and control section of the rectenna base station if the identification code matches a stored identification code.

A rectenna structure comprising a flexible, dielectric sheet of material; a plurality of metallic lenslets disposed on the sheet of material; and a plurality of diodes disposed on the sheet of material, each diode in said plurality of diodes being arranged at a focus of a corresponding one of said plurality of metallic lenslets.

Exemplary systems and methods are provided for collecting / harvesting direct current (DC) power received from a power source(s). The system comprises a controlled impedance power controller comprises a power converter configured to present a positive equivalent resistive load to the at least one power source over a range of input power levels. Exemplary systems and methods are provided for collecting radio frequency (RF) power. An exemplary system comprises at least two rectenna elements, a power controller, and a DC combining circuit. The DC combining circuit is associated with the at least two rectenna elements and the DC combining circuit is configured to dynamically combine the at least two rectenna elements in one of a plurality of series / parallel configurations. The power controller is configured to control the DC combining circuit to achieve a desired overall power output from the at least two rectenna elements.

A rectenna is a combination of an antenna and a rectifier (diode). Because of limitations in nanotechnology fabrication, it has not been possible to develop rectennas that can operate in the visible frequency range. Current work has gone to producing rectennas that operate in the far infrared (thermal emission) frequency range. To harvest solar energy with rectennas to produce electric power and since rectennas cannot operate at such high frequencies, the present invention provides rectenna configurations to overcome this problem.

A small planar antenna with an enhanced bandwidth and a small rectenna for RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and wireless sensor transponder are provided. The small planar antenna includes a dielectric substrate, a metal layer formed on an upper part of the dielectric substrate, a main slot formed in pattern on the metal layer, and a plurality of sub-slots connected to the main slot and winding in a specified direction, and the plurality of sub-slots form a pair of symmetric sub-slot groups around the main slot. According to the small planar antenna, the antenna region that substantially takes part in the radiation is substantially increased, and thus an enhanced bandwidth can be obtained without affecting the radiation pattern, radiation efficiency, polarization purity, etc., of the antenna.

Antennas developed for electromagnetic field energy harvesting, typically referred to as rectennas, provide an alternative electromagnetic field energy harvesting means to photovoltaic cells if designed for operation in the visible frequency spectrum. Rectennas also provide energy harvesting ability or power transfer mechanism at microwave, millimeter and terahertz frequencies. However, the power harvesting efficiency of available rectennas is low because rectennas employ traditional antennas whose dimensions is typically proportional or close to the wavelength of operation. This invention provides a device for electromagnetic field energy harvesting that employs a plurality of electrically-small resonators such as split-ring resonators that provide significantly enhanced energy harvesting or energy collection efficiency while occupying smaller footprint. The invention is applicable to electromagnetic energy harvesting and to wireless power transfer.

A rectenna structure comprising a flexible, dielectric sheet of material; a plurality of metallic lenslets disposed on the sheet of material; and a plurality of diodes disposed on the sheet of material, each diode in said plurality of diodes being arranged at a focus of a corresponding one of said plurality of metallic lenslets.

A rectifying antenna device is disclosed. The device comprises a pair of electrode structures, and at least one nanostructure diode contacting at least a first electrode structure of the pair and being at least in proximity to a second electrode structure of the pair. At least one electrode structure of the pair receives AC radiation, and the nanostructure diode(s) at least partially rectifies a current generated by the AC radiation.

The wireless power transmission is a system for providing wireless charging and / or primary power to electronic / electrical devices via microwave energy. The microwave energy is focused to a location in response to receiving a beacon signal from a beacon device by a power transmitter having one or more adaptively-phased microwave array emitters. Rectennas within the device to be charged receive and rectify the microwave energy and use it for battery charging and / or for primary power.

A system for beaming power to a high altitude platform is based upon a high power millimeter gyrotron source, optical transmission components, and a high-power receiving antenna (i.e., a rectenna) capable of rectifying received millimeter energy and converting such energy into useable electrical power.

A method and system for solar powered charging of an electronic device is provided. Solar concentrators direct solar energy onto photovoltaic cells on an orbiting space station or a satellite in a geostationary orbit. The photovoltaic cells convert the solar energy to direct current (DC) electrical power. Energy generators convert the DC electrical power to generate energy waves, for example, microwaves. A space transmitter relays the energy waves to one or more earth stations. The electronic device transmits a locator beam indicating its current location. On receiving the locator beam, an earth station transmits the energy waves to the electronic device. A rectenna, in electronic communication with the electronic device, converts the energy waves to DC electrical power and directs the DC electrical power to a charger in electric communication with the electronic device. The charger receives the energy waves or the DC electrical power and charges the electronic device.

Solar power satellite system for transmitting microwave energy to the earth and a method of arranging the solar power satellite system about the sun for same. The solar power satellite system comprises a space-based power generation unit disposed in a planetary orbit about the sun. A photovoltaic cell on the space-based power generation unit collects solar energy that is then converted to microwave energy to be beamed to the earth. A ground-based rectenna receives the microwave energy and converts the microwave energy to electricity that is transmitted to an end user. The solar power satellite system and method provides electrical power on earth day or night and regardless of atmospheric conditions. Also, surface area of the solar panel on the space-based power generation unit orbiting about the sun is much less than the surface area required of a ground-based solar panel or a solar panel in earth orbit.

A system and method are described for powering a vehicle using radio frequency (“RF”) signals. For example, a method according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: positioning an antenna array beneath or on the road surface of a roadway, the antenna array configured to transmit RF signals responsive to RF processing logic and / or circuitry; coupling a rectenna array to a vehicle, the rectenna array configured to receive the RF signals transmitted from the antenna array and to generate power from the RF signals; providing feedback signals from the vehicle to the RF processing logic and / or circuitry, the feedback signals including channel state information (CSI) defining a current state of the channels between the antenna array and the rectenna array, the RF processing logic and / or circuitry using the channel state information to adjust the RF signal transmissions from the antenna array to improve the efficiency of the power generated by the rectenna array; and using the power generated by the rectenna array to power the vehicle.

A loop antenna unit (2), a balanced line (3), and two perturbation elements (4) are formed on a dielectric board (1) by using manufacturing methods, such as printing and etching. The loop antenna unit (2) is formed along the circumference of a circle, and is connected to the balanced line (3). Each of the two perturbation elements (4) is a member in the shape of a tooth which is inclined 45 degrees against a direction of feeding of power via the balanced line (3) and which is projecting from the loop antenna unit (2) in an inward direction toward the center of the loop antenna unit (2). The two perturbation elements (4) are arranged at two opposite points in the loop antenna unit (2) so that they are opposite to each other.

A small planar antenna with an enhanced bandwidth and a small rectenna for RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and wireless sensor transponder are provided. The small planar antenna includes a dielectric substrate, a metal layer formed on an upper part of the dielectric substrate, a main slot formed in pattern on the metal layer, and a plurality of sub-slots connected to the main slot and winding in a specified direction, and the plurality of sub-slots form a pair of symmetric sub-slot groups around the main slot. According to the small planar antenna, the antenna region that substantially takes part in the radiation is substantially increased, and thus an enhanced bandwidth can be obtained without affecting the radiation pattern, radiation efficiency, polarization purity, etc., of the antenna.

Provided is an apparatus for harvesting energy from a microwave. An apparatus for harvesting energy from a microwave in an electricity storage system of a building, includes: a plurality of rectennas arranged with a predetermined length according to characteristic of microwave to be absorbed, and configured to collect microwave in the atmosphere and convert the collected microwave into electric energy; a current converter configured to convert the electric energy outputted from the rectennas into a storable current; and a charging tank configured to store the current outputted from the current converter, wherein the arranged rectennas are attached to an outer wall of the building, and the rectennas attached to the top of the building are printed in a transparent conductor on the surface of a solar cell.

A patch antenna for receiving high frequency wireless signal and a rectenna using the same, more particularly, an impedance-matched patch antenna adopting a slot capacitive coupling structure and a rectenna capable of generating electrical energy from the wireless signals having different frequency band. A rectenna for receiving an A.C. wireless signal carrying electrical energy and converting the wireless signal into a D.C. electrical energy, is comprised of: a patch antenna for receiving the wireless signal comprising an dielectric substrate, a patch that is formed at the upper area of the surface of the dielectric substrate and providing the first frequency response characteristics, a ground plane formed on the other surface of the dielectric substrate, and an impedance matching means providing the second frequency response characteristics; and a rectifying unit that converts the wireless signal, received via the patch antenna, into a D.C. electrical energy by rectifying the wireless signal.

A metamaterial coupled antenna includes a metamaterial and a rectenna that has an antenna element and a diode coupled by a transmission line. The metamaterial generates a spoof surface plasmon in the presence of heat. The antenna element resonates in the presence of the spoof surface plasmon as terahertz frequencies and generates a voltage that is coupled to the diode via the transmission line. The diode rectifies the voltage to produce electricity. The transmission line is configured to provide a voltage boost to the voltage signal delivered by the antenna element and to compensation for diode capacitance.

A power transmission and imaging system for an airship comprises a transmission antenna array configured to transmit an energy beam to a patch rectenna carried by the airship. Coupled to the patch rectenna is a power distribution and control network that supplies rectified power delivered by the energy beam into the proper format for delivery to a power storage system and a motor control system. The power storage system comprises one or more batteries to store the transmitted energy, while the motor control system powers various propellers, blowers, and valves maintained by the airship in order to descend the airship to the ground. The rectenna may also function as an imaging system in real-time. The image processing system uses the patch rectenna to transmit and receive signals, and in turn store and process the return signals (images).

A system and method are described for powering an aircraft using radio frequency (“RF”) signals. For example, a method according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: positioning an antenna array beneath or on the road surface of a roadway, the antenna array configured to transmit RF signals responsive to RF processing logic and / or circuitry; coupling a rectenna array to an aircraft, the rectenna array configured to receive the RF signals transmitted from the antenna array and to generate power from the RF signals; providing feedback signals from the aircraft to the RF processing logic and / or circuitry, the feedback signals including channel state information (CSI) defining a current state of the channels between the antenna array and the rectenna array, the RF processing logic and / or circuitry using the channel state information to adjust the RF signal transmissions from the antenna array to improve the efficiency of the power generated by the rectenna array; and using the power generated by the rectenna array to power the aircraft.

The invention discloses a dual-frequency receiving antenna and a dual-frequency rectifying antenna. The dual-frequency receiving antenna and the dual-frequency rectifying antenna are used for solving the problems that an existing dual-frequency receiving antenna is large in size and small in gain, an existing dual-frequency rectifying antenna is large in size, can not receive weak energy and is not suitable for remote transmission, and a rectifying circuit is poor in reliability. The dual-frequency receiving antenna comprises a rectangular radiating patch. A Z-type groove used for achieving dual-frequency characteristics is formed in the radiation patch. The lower end of the radiation patch is sequentially connected with a dielectric substrate layer and a metal earth plate through a coaxial line. The coaxial line is in circuit connection with the rear end of the radiation patch. An air dielectric layer is formed between the radiation patch and the dielectric substrate layer. The portions, arranged between the radiation patch and the dielectric substrate layer, outside the coaxial line are provided with metal sheets in a bilaterally-symmetric mode. The upper ends of the metal sheets are connected with the radiation patch. The lower ends of the metal sheets are connected with the dielectric substrate layer. One end face of the radiation patch is further connected with the metal sheets connected with the dielectric substrate layer. The dual-frequency receiving antenna and the dual-frequency rectifying antenna can be widely applied in the fields of communication, medical treatment, industry and the like, for microwave power transmission.

A loop antenna unit (2), a balanced line (3), and two perturbation elements (4) are formed on a dielectric board (1) by using manufacturing methods, such as printing and etching. The loop antenna unit (2) is formed along the circumference of a circle, and is connected to the balanced line (3). Each of the two perturbation elements (4) is a member in the shape of a tooth which is inclined 45 degrees against a direction of feeding of power via the balanced line (3) and which is projecting from the loop antenna unit (2) in an inward direction toward the center of the loop antenna unit (2). The two perturbation elements (4) are arranged at two opposite points in the loop antenna unit (2) so that they are opposite to each other.

The invention discloses a WiFi-frequency-band-based rectification antenna with harmonic wave suppression. The rectification antenna comprises a WiFi-frequency-band-based harmonic wave suppressing microstrip receiving antenna and a microstrip differential rectification circuit. The output end of the microstrip receiving antenna is connected with the input end of the microstrip differential rectification circuit. The microstrip differential rectification circuit includes a 50-ohm impedance wire, a branch T type impedance matching unit, a branch rectification unit, and a branch output filter and a load. The 50-ohm impedance wire is used as the input end at the input port of the microstrip differential rectification circuit and is connected with the output end of the receiving antenna. The output end of the input port leads out two branches. The input ends of the two branches are connected through a T type knot and the output ends pass successively the branch impedance matching unit, the branch rectification unit, and the branch output filter, and is finally connected with the load. The diodes of the branch rectification unit are connected in reverse direction.

Some aspects are directed to a system for wirelessly powering a pair of three-dimension (3D) glasses, and to a wirelessly powered 3D glasses. The system uses a powering device for generating and transmitting a wireless power signal, and a rectenna integrated within the 3D glasses for receiving the wireless power signal. The rectenna converts the wireless power signal into a Direct Current for powering the 3D glasses. The 3D glasses comprises a frame, a pair of Liquid Crystal Shutters supported by the frame, and a rectenna for receiving a wireless power signal and transforming the wireless power signal into a direct current signal for powering the 3D glasses.