Methods and Systems for Maximum Power Point Transfer in Receivers

Abstract

A MPPT management method in a receiver used for wireless power transmission may include the monitoring of the power extracted from RF waves at a dedicated antenna element in the receiver; detecting MPPT at an intelligent input boost converter in the receiver; comparing the detected MPPT with MPPT tables stored or calculated within a main system micro-controller in the receiver; adjusting the MPPT at the intelligent boost converter to find a suitable maximum peak that may enable an optimal power extraction from RF waves.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A receiver, comprising:
 a first antenna element for receiving wireless signals comprising energy resulting from constructive interference patterns of radio-frequency (RF) waves;   a first rectifier, operatively coupled to the antenna element for converting the energy received by the first antenna element;   a second antenna element for receiving wireless signals comprising energy resulting from constructive interference patterns of RF waves;   a second rectifier, operatively coupled to the second antenna element for converting the energy received by the second antenna element;   an input boost converter, operatively coupled to the first rectifier, the input boost converter being configured to step up the energy converted by the first rectifier and to determine at least one of (i) a global power maximum and (ii) a local power maximum produced in the first rectifier;   a controller, operatively coupled to the input boost converter and the second rectifier, wherein the controller is configured to
 determine available energy at the second rectifier, 
 determine at least one maximum power point (MPP) value from the first rectifier, and 
 transmit an operational instruction to the first rectifier to further step up the energy converted by the first rectifier 
   
     
     
         2 . The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the input boost converter comprises a microcontroller operatively coupled to the controller. 
     
     
         3 . The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the operational instruction comprises data for configuring the input boost converter to further step up the energy to the global power maximum. 
     
     
         4 . The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to index a combination of the determined available energy and at least one MPP value in a look-up table. 
     
     
         5 . The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the available energy at the second rectifier to the at least one maximum power point (MPP) value from the first rectifier to determine the operational instruction. 
     
     
         6 . The receiver of  claim 1 , further comprising an output boost converter, wherein the controller is configured to process and determine load requirements for the receiver and control operation of the input boost converter and output boost converter based on the determined load requirements. 
     
     
         7 . The receiver of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage element, operatively coupled to the input boost converter, the storage element being configured to receive and store at least a portion of the energy from the input boost converter; 
     
     
         8 . The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a communication portion, the controller being further configured to measure voltage from at least one of (i) the rectifier, (ii) the input boost converter, (iii) the storage element, and (iv) the output boost converter, wherein the controller is configured to communicate, via the communication portion, the measurements to a load. 
     
     
         9 . The receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the output boost converter by adjusting load current limits at the output boost converter. 
     
     
         10 . A method for operating a receiver, comprising:
 receiving, in a first antenna element, wireless signals comprising energy resulting from constructive interference patterns of radio-frequency (RF) waves;   converting the energy received by the first antenna element in a first rectifier;   receiving, in a second antenna element, wireless signals comprising energy resulting from constructive interference patterns of RF waves;   converting the energy received by the second antenna element in a second rectifier;   stepping up the energy converted by the first rectifier via an input boost converter and determining in the input boost converter at least one of (i) a global power maximum and (ii) a local power maximum produced in the first rectifier;   determining available energy at the second rectifier via a controller,   determining at least one maximum power point (MPP) value from the first rectifier via the controller, and   transmitting an operational instruction from the controller to the first rectifier to further step up the energy converted by the first rectifier   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the input boost converter comprises a microcontroller operatively coupled to the controller. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the operational instruction comprises data for configuring the input boost converter to further step up the energy to the global power maximum. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of indexing a combination of the determined available energy and at least one MPP value in a look-up table via the controller. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of comparing, via the controller, the available energy at the second rectifier to the at least one maximum power point (MPP) value from the first rectifier to determine the operational instruction. 
     
     
         15 . A receiver comprising a plurality of antenna elements for receiving wireless signals comprising energy resulting from constructive interference patterns of radio-frequency (RF) waves, and a respective plurality of rectifiers configured to convert the energy received by each of the antenna elements, the receiver comprising:
 an input boost converter, operatively coupled to a first of the plurality of rectifiers, the input boost converter being configured to step up the energy converted by the first rectifier and to determine at least one of (i) a global power maximum and (ii) a local power maximum produced in the first rectifier;   a controller, operatively coupled to the input boost converter and a second of the plurality of rectifiers, wherein the controller is configured to
 determine available energy at the second rectifier, 
 determine at least one maximum power point (MPP) value from the first rectifier, and 
 transmit an operational instruction to the first rectifier to further step up the energy converted by the first rectifier 
   
     
     
         16 . The receiver of  claim 15 , wherein the input boost converter comprises a microcontroller operatively coupled to the controller. 
     
     
         17 . The receiver of  claim 15 , wherein the operational instruction comprises data for configuring the input boost converter to further step up the energy to the global power maximum. 
     
     
         18 . The receiver of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to index a combination of the determined available energy and at least one MPP value in a look-up table. 
     
     
         19 . The receiver of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the available energy at the second rectifier to the at least one maximum power point (MPP) value from the first rectifier to determine the operational instruction. 
     
     
         20 . The receiver of  claim 15 , further comprising an output boost converter, wherein the controller is configured to process and determine load requirements for the receiver and control operation of the input boost converter and output boost converter based on the determined load requirements.