Dynamic rectifier circuits with multiple-order timescale feedback controls

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10938249-B2
Application number	US-201816157680-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2018
Priority date	Oct 11, 2018
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for various tunable multi-timescale wireless rectification systems. Tunable multi-timescale wireless rectification systems may include multiple feedback control loops, systems, or sub-systems that modify characteristics of components of a wireless rectification system on various timescales. A wireless rectification system may include antennas, impedance-matching components, rectifying devices, DC-to-DC converters, and/or load controllers. Two or more feedback controls may function on different timescales to modify one or more characteristics or functionalities of components of the wireless rectification system in response to monitored AC and/or DC power values at various locations within the wireless rectification system. Feedback controls operating on various timescales may include antenna feedback controls, impedance feedback controls, rectifying feedback controls, and/or DC feedback controls.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tunable multi-timescale wireless rectification system, comprising:
an antenna to receive electromagnetic radiation;
a rectifying device to produce a DC power output;
an impedance-matching component to couple the antenna to the rectifying device;
a DC-to-DC converter to couple the rectifying device to a load;
a first feedback control that operates on a first timescale to modify AC power delivered from the antennas to the rectifying devices by modifying a characteristic of the antennas;
a second feedback control that operates on a second timescale to modify DC power delivered from the rectifying devices to the load by modifying a characteristic of the rectifying devices;
a third feedback control that operates on a third timescale to further modify AC power delivered from the antennas to the rectifying devices by modifying impedances of the impedance-matching components; and
a fourth feedback control that operates on a fourth timescale to modify a DC power characteristic of power delivered from the rectifying devices to the load.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising DC-to-DC converters responsive to the fourth feedback control to modify the DC power characteristic of power delivered from the rectifying devices to the load.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the load comprises:
a propulsion system;
a sensor; and
a processor to control operation of the propulsion system and the sensor.

4. A tunable multi-timescale wireless rectification system, comprising:
a plurality of antennas to receive electromagnetic radiation;
a plurality of rectifying devices to produce DC power outputs;
a plurality of impedance-matching components to couple each of the antennas to at least one of the rectifying devices;
a plurality of DC-to-DC converters to couple the rectifying devices to a load;
a first feedback control associated with at least one of (i) the antennas and (ii) the impedance-matching components to modify AC power delivered from the antennas to the rectifying devices on a first timescale; and
a second feedback control associated with the DC-to-DC converters to modify DC power delivered from the rectifying devices to the load on a second timescale.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a third feedback control associated with the rectifying devices to modify DC power delivered from the rectifying devices to the load on a third timescale.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first feedback control is associated with the impedance-matching components to modify a characteristic of the impedance-matching components on the first timescale that results in a modification to the AC power provided to the rectifying devices.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the second feedback control is associated with the rectifying devices to operate on the second timescale to modify a characteristic of the rectifying devices that results in a modification to the DC power delivered from the rectifying devices to the load.

8. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a DC conversion feedback control associated with the DC-to-DC converters to operate on a third timescale to modify a characteristic of the DC-to-DC converters that results in a second modification to the DC power delivered from the rectifying devices to the load.

9. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a controller to coordinate the first feedback control on the first timescale and the second feedback control on the second timescale to optimize power conversion efficiency.

10. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a controller to coordinate the first feedback control on the first timescale and the second feedback control on the second timescale to control temperature hotspots exceeding a predetermined maximum temperature value.

11. The system of claim 4 , wherein the second feedback control is associated with the DC-to-DC converters to operate on the second timescale to modify a characteristic of the DC-to-DC converters that results in a modification to the DC power delivered from the rectifying devices to the load.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first feedback control is associated with the antennas to operate on the first timescale to modify a characteristic of the antennas that results in a modification to the AC power provided to the rectifying devices; and
further comprising a rectification feedback control associated with the rectifying devices to operate on a third timescale to modify a characteristic of the rectifying devices that results in a second modification to the DC power delivered from the rectifying devices to the load.

13. A multi-timescale rectification optimization and protection system, comprising:
an impedance-matching component to electrically connect an antenna and a rectifying device of a wireless power rectification system, wherein the impedance-matching component is responsive to a first feedback control to modify AC power delivered to the rectifying device by the antenna on a first timescale; and
a DC-to-DC converter to electrically connect the rectifying device to a load, wherein the DC-to-DC converter is responsive to a second feedback control to modify DC power delivered to the load by the rectifying device on a second timescale,
wherein the first timescale of the first feedback control is at least an order of magnitude faster than the second timescale of the second feedback control.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first feedback control is an inherent feedback characteristic of the impedance-matching component.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the impedance-matching component is configured to limit AC power throughput below a maximum value by reflecting power back to the antenna that exceeds the maximum value.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the DC-to-DC converter is part of a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller responsive to the second feedback control.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the second feedback control comprises at least one analog feedback loop to dynamically adjust at least one of (i) an input impedance of the MPPT controller and (ii) an output impedance of the MPPT controller.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the second feedback control comprises a first analog feedback loop to dynamically adjust the input impedance of the MPPT controller and a second analog feedback loop to dynamically adjust the output impedance of the MPPT controller.

19. A method for providing wireless power to a target device, comprising:
converting, via a plurality of antennas, received electromagnetic radiation into AC power;
modifying, via impedance-matching components, the AC power from the antennas based on an impedance-match feedback control operating on a first timescale;
rectifying, via rectifying devices, the modified AC power from the impedance-matching components to produce DC power outputs to a load;
adjusting a bias voltage of at least one of the rectifying devices based on a bias feedback control operating on a second timescale to modify at least one of the DC power outputs of at least one of the rectifying devices.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising coordinating, via a controller, the impedance-match feedback control on the first timescale and the bias-feedback control on the second timescale.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the impedance-matching components comprise tunable circuits responsive to the first feedback control provided by an analog feedback signal to limit AC power throughput bel

Assignees

• Searete Llc

Inventors

• Arnitz Daniel
• Arnstein Lawrence F
• Bowers Jeffrey A
• Hagerty Joseph A
• Hannigan Russell J
• Lipworth Guy S
• Nash David R
• Reynolds Matthew S
• Tegreene Clarence T
• Urzhumov Yaroslav A

Classifications

• H02J50/90

  involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment · CPC title

• H02J50/402

  the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas · CPC title

• H02J50/20 Primary

  using microwaves or radio frequency waves · CPC title

• B60L53/12 Primary

  Inductive energy transfer · CPC title

• H02J7/82

  Control of state of charge [SOC] · CPC title