Electronic Devices and Systems

Abstract

A device having a switched impedance that can be switched between a first state and a second state wherein, in the first state, the device acts as a voltage multiplier and, in the second state, the device acts as a rectifier.

1 . A device having a switched impedance that can be switched between a first state and a second state wherein, in the first state, the device acts as a voltage multiplier and, in the second state, the device acts as a rectifier.  
   
   
       2 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the device includes receiving means for receiving a signal, the device being configured for selectively controlling the amount of current in the receiving means by switching between the first state and the second state.  
   
   
       3 . A device as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the current drawn through the receiving means in the first state is greater than the current drawn through the receiving means in the second state.  
   
   
       4 . A device as claimed in  claim 2  or  3  wherein the receiving means is connected to one or more voltage input terminals of the device.  
   
   
       5 . A device as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the receiving means comprises a coil in an antenna circuit.  
   
   
       6 . A device as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the receiving means has a impedance of substantially 200 ohms.  
   
   
       7 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a load is connected between one or more output voltage terminals of the rectifier.  
   
   
       8 . A device as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the load comprises an integrated circuit.  
   
   
       9 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first state is an operational state and the second state is a standby state.  
   
   
       10 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the switched impedance comprises a switch in series with a capacitor.  
   
   
       11 . A device as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the switch of the switched impedance comprises a MOSFET.  
   
   
       12 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the switched impedance is connected between a first input terminal and a first output terminal of the rectifier.  
   
   
       13 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the device includes a series regulator for controlling an operating voltage by varying resistance when the device is switched between the first and second states.  
   
   
       14 . A device as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the device includes receiving means in series with the series regulator, the receiving means being configured for receiving a signal.  
   
   
       15 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the device includes a load in series with the series regulator.  
   
   
       16 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the device includes a shunt regulator to control the operating voltage when the device is switched between the first and second states.  
   
   
       17 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the voltage multiplier transforms the load impedance by a factor of 8.  
   
   
       18 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the rectifier transforms the load impedance by a factor of 2.  
   
   
       19 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the device is configured for controlling current and wherein there is a relatively smaller amount of current, relative to the first state, when the device is in the second state.  
   
   
       20 . A device as claimed in  claim 19  wherein in the first state the current is hundreds of microamperes and in the second state the current is tens of microamperes.  
   
   
       21 . A device as claimed in  claim 19  or  20  wherein in the second state the relatively smaller amount of current is less than approximately 50 μA.  
   
   
       22 . A device as claimed in  claim 19  or  20  wherein in the second state the relatively smaller amount of current is less than approximately 30 μA.  
   
   
       23 . A device as claimed in  claim 19  wherein in the second state the relatively smaller amount of current is less than approximately 15 μA.  
   
   
       24 . A device as claimed in  claim 19  or  20  wherein in the second state the relatively smaller amount of current is between approximately 1 μA and approximately 4.99 μA.  
   
   
       25 . A device as claimed in  claim 19  wherein in the second state the relatively smaller amount of the first current is less than 50% of the relatively larger amount of the first current.  
   
   
       26 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the switched impedance is configured to select the second state more frequently than the first state.  
   
   
       27 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the switch is used to select the first or second states according to an algorithm.  
   
   
       28 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein in the second state the device acts as a full wave bridge rectifier.  
   
   
       29 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the voltage multiplier provides as increased output voltage.  
   
   
       30 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein in the first state the device acts as a voltage doubler.  
   
   
       31 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the device is utilized in a radio frequency identification device.  
   
   
       32 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the radio identification frequency device is passive.  
   
   
       33 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein in the second state current is used to maintain RAM data stored in CMOS memory, and operate logic functions.  
   
   
       34 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  including an onboard energy storage device.  
   
   
       35 . A method of selectively controlling current, the method comprising: providing a device operable in one of a first state or a second state, coupling an impedance to the device to enable switching of the device between a first state and a second state wherein, in the first state, the device acts as a voltage multiplier and, in the second state, the device acts as a rectifier.  
   
   
       36 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the method includes using a receiving means to receive a signal, and selectively controlling the amount of current in the receiving means by switching between the first state and the second state.  
   
   
       37 . A method as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the current drawn through the receiving means in the first state is greater than the current drawn through the receiving means in the second state.  
   
   
       38 . A method as claimed in  claim 36  or  37  wherein the receiving means is connected to one or more voltage input terminals of the device.  
   
   
       39 . A method as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the receiving means comprises a coil in an antenna circuit.  
   
   
       40 . A method as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the receiving means has a impedance of substantially 200 ohms.  
   
   
       41 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein a load is connected between one or more output voltage terminals of the rectifier.  
   
   
       42 . A method as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the load comprises an integrated circuit.  
   
   
       43 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the first state is an operational state and the second state is a standby state.  
   
   
       44 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the switched impedance comprises a switch in series with a capacitor.  
   
   
       45 . A method as claimed in  claim 44  wherein the switch of the switched impedance comprises a MOSFET.  
   
   
       46 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the switched impedance is connected between a first input terminal and a first output terminal of the rectifier.  
   
   
       47 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the device includes a series regulator for controlling an operating voltage by varying resistance when the device is switched between the first and second states.  
   
   
       48 . A method as claimed in  claim 47  wherein the device includes receiving means in series with the series regulator, the receiving means being configured for receiving a signal.  
   
   
       49 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the device includes a load in series with the series regulator.  
   
   
       50 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the device includes a shunt regulator to control the operating voltage when the device is switched between the first and second states  
   
   
       51 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the voltage multiplier transforms the load impedance by a factor of 8  
   
   
       52 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the rectifier transforms the load impedance by a factor of 2.  
   
   
       53 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the device is configured for controlling current and wherein there is a relatively smaller amount of current, relative to the first state, when the device is in the second state.  
   
   
       54 . A method as claimed in  claim 53  wherein in the first state the current is hundreds of microamperes and in the second state the current is tens of microamperes.  
   
   
       55 . A method as claimed in  claim 53  or  54  wherein in the second state the relatively smaller amount of current is less than approximately 50 μA.  
   
   
       56 . A method as claimed in  claim 53  or  54  wherein in the second state the relatively smaller amount of current is less than approximately 30 μA.  
   
   
       57 . A method as claimed in  claim 53  or  54  wherein in the second state the relatively smaller amount of current is less than approximately 15 μA.  
   
   
       58 . A method as claimed in  claim 53  or  54  wherein in the second state the relatively smaller amount of current is between approximately 1 μA and approximately 4.99 μA.  
   
   
       59 . A method as claimed in  claim 53  wherein in the second state the relatively smaller amount of the first current is less than 50% of the relatively larger amount of the first current.  
   
   
       60 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the switched impedance is configured to select the second state more frequently than the first state.  
   
   
       61 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the switch is used to select the first or second states according to an algorithm.  
   
   
       62 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein in the second state the device acts as a full wave bridge rectifier.  
   
   
       63 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the voltage multiplier provides as increased output voltage.  
   
   
       64 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the voltage multiplier is a voltage doubler.  
   
   
       65 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the device is utilized in a radio frequency identification device.  
   
   
       66 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the radio identification frequency device is passive.  
   
   
       67 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein in the second state current is used to maintain RAM data stored in CMOS memory, and operate logic functions.  
   
   
       68 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  including an onboard energy storage device.  
   
   
       69 . A method as claimed in  claim 35  wherein the coupling of the impedance is enabled by a switch.