Power receiver circuit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10483766-B2
Application number	US-201815885493-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2018
Priority date	Apr 18, 2016
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

Systems and techniques are provided for a power receiver circuit. A power generating mechanism may include power generating elements that may generate alternating current signals. Rectifier circuit may include rectifiers that may generate a direct current signal from an alternating current signal, and diodes. Group circuits that may connect groups of rectifier circuits in electrical circuits to combine the direct current signals from the rectifier circuits in a group into a single direct current signal. A step down converter may be connected to the group circuits. The step down converter may convert a direct current signal to a direct current signal of a target voltage level. An output switch may be connected to the step down converter. A linear regulator may be connected to the step down converter. A microcontroller may be connected to the linear regulator and the output switch and may control the output switch.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A power receiver circuit device comprising:
a power generating mechanism comprising power generating elements configured to generate alternating current signals;
one or more rectifier circuits, each rectifier circuit comprising a rectifier configured to generate a direct current signal from an alternating current signal and a diode;
one or more group circuits, each group circuit connecting a group of rectifier circuits in an electrical circuit to combine the direct current signals from the rectifier circuits in the group into a single direct current signal;
a step down converter connected to the one or more group circuits, the step down converter configured to convert a direct current signal to a direct current signal of a target voltage level;
an output switch connected to the step down converter;
a linear regulator connected to the step down converter; and
a microcontroller connected to the linear regulator and the output switch and configured to control the output switch, wherein the microcontroller is configured to open the output switch, enter a standby state, and send a message using a radio of the microcontroller that the voltage of the voltage of the direct current signal from the step down converter has dropped when the microcontroller determines that the voltage of the direct current signal from the step down converter falls below a predetermined a threshold voltage.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the linear regulator is configured to convert a direct current signal from the step down converter to a direct current signal with a native voltage of the microcontroller.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to control the output switch by opening the output switch and closing the output switch.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is configured to communicate with the transmitting device using the radio when the linear regulator supplies sufficient power to operate the microcontroller.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the communication with the transmitting device comprises one or more of sending a measurement of a voltage of a direct current signal input into the step down converter, sending a measurement of a voltage of a direct current signal input to the output switch, sending a measurement of an amperage of a direct current signal output by the output switch, sending a message indicating that voltage of the direct current input to the output switch has fallen below a predetermined threshold, receiving a message instructing the microcontroller to open the output switch, and receiving a message instructing the microcontroller to close the output switch.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the output switch is configured to output a direct current signal received form the step down converter when the output switch is closed and to output no signal when the output switch is open.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the step down converter is further configured to receive the direct current signal from the one or more group circuits.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the direct current signal from the one or group circuits has a varying voltage.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more rectifier circuits is connected to a single power generating element.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the diode of one of the rectifier circuits is connected to an output of the rectifier of the one of the rectifier circuits.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein each group circuit connecting a group of rectifier circuits in an electrical circuit to combine the direct current signals from the rectifier circuits in the group into a single direct current signal connects the group of rectifier circuits in either parallel or in series.

Assignees

• Ubeam Inc

Inventors

• Gao Hong
• Bolus Jonathan

Classifications

• H02J1/082

  DC supplies with two or more different DC voltage levels · CPC title

• H02J4/25

  for transfer of electric power between AC and DC networks, e.g. for supplying the DC section within a load from an AC mains system · CPC title

• H02J50/15

  using ultrasonic waves · CPC title

• H02M7/2176

  comprising a passive stage to generate a rectified sinusoidal voltage and a controlled switching element in series between such stage and the output · CPC title

• H02J1/102

  being switching converters (H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence) · CPC title