EP1970994A1 - A direct current energy supplying antenna structure - Google Patents

A direct current energy supplying antenna structure Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1970994A1
EP1970994A1 EP07103007A EP07103007A EP1970994A1 EP 1970994 A1 EP1970994 A1 EP 1970994A1 EP 07103007 A EP07103007 A EP 07103007A EP 07103007 A EP07103007 A EP 07103007A EP 1970994 A1 EP1970994 A1 EP 1970994A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
direct current
antenna structure
current energy
resistive element
dielectric layer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP07103007A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Hubregt Jannis Visser
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
Original Assignee
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO filed Critical Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
Priority to EP07103007A priority Critical patent/EP1970994A1/en
Priority to EP08723893A priority patent/EP2132824A1/en
Priority to PCT/NL2008/050142 priority patent/WO2008111836A1/en
Publication of EP1970994A1 publication Critical patent/EP1970994A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
    • H01Q1/22—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles
    • H01Q1/24—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set
    • H01Q1/248—Supports; Mounting means by structural association with other equipment or articles with receiving set provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q9/00—Electrically-short antennas having dimensions not more than twice the operating wavelength and consisting of conductive active radiating elements
    • H01Q9/04—Resonant antennas
    • H01Q9/0407—Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a direct current energy supplying antenna structure for converting radio frequency energy to direct current energy, comprising a micro strip patch antenna and a rectifier circuitry.
  • Such direct current energy supplying antenna structures are known for providing direct current energy to wireless mobile communication devices, thereby reducing the need for local energy suppliers, such as batteries.
  • the invention aims at obtaining a direct current energy supplying antenna structure according to the preamble wherein the antenna structure can be used for both providing direct current energy and wireless communicating.
  • the antenna structure further comprises a resistive element connecting a printed pattern on a first side of a dielectric layer with a ground plane on a second, opposite to the first side of the dielectric layer near an edge of the strip patch, and wherein the rectifier circuitry is arranged in series with the resistive element.
  • DC power can advantageously be retrieved from RF energy that is received by the antenna.
  • antenna structure comprising a resistive element connecting a printed pattern on a first side of a dielectric layer with a ground plane on a second, opposite to the first side of the dielectric layer near an edge of the strip patch, is known per se, see e.g. 'Broadband circularly polarised square microstrip antenna using chip-resistor loading' by C.-Y. Huang a.o. in Antennas and Propagation, IEE Proceedings on Microwaves, 1999, page 94 sqq .
  • Such lumped resistive connections of the printed pattern and a ground plane improve a bandwidth of the antenna and decrease a required antenna area, thus allowing miniaturization of micro strip patch antennas.
  • the direct current energy supplying antenna structure according to the invention can advantageously be used for mobile communication devices, especially in low power wireless communication applications with reduced power sources, or in applications wherein the use of local power sources is even undesired or impossible.
  • Examples of low power wireless communication applications are devices for local area networks.
  • the direct current energy supplying antenna structure further comprises an additional resistive element connecting a printed pattern on a first side of a dielectric layer with a ground plane on a second, opposite to the first side of the dielectric layer near an additional edge of the strip patch, wherein the edge and the additional edge are oriented substantially transverse with respect to each other and wherein the additional rectifier circuitry is arranged in series with the additional resistive element.
  • more DC energy can be obtained from RF waves as radio waves having different polarizations interact substantially with each or both rectifier circuitries.
  • Fig. 1 shows a direct current energy supplying antenna structure according to the invention.
  • the antenna structure 1 comprises a micro strip patch antenna 2 implemented in a planar structure.
  • the antenna 2 is connected to an output port 9 via a transmission line segment that is realized in the same technology.
  • the transmission line and the patch 2 are realized using micro strip technology.
  • a ground plate of a printed circuit board serves as the earth, while on the opposite side of the board an electrically conducting pattern is printed. It is noted, however, that also other techniques could be used, such as etching techniques.
  • the printed circuit board has dielectric properties to electromagnetically couple the printed pattern and the ground plate.
  • the transmission line segment is formed as printed tracks.
  • the patch is formed as a rectangular plane section that is designated for optimal receipt and transmission of e.g. 2.45 GHz.
  • a first edge 3 of the patch 2 is connected via a rectifier circuitry 7 in series with a discrete resistive element 10 to an electrically conducting via 5 that is connected to the ground plane of the antenna structure 1.
  • the discrete resistive element 10 is assembled on the side of the printed circuit board on which the electrically conducting pattern is printed. Alternatively, the discrete resistive element 10 is arranged in the via 5 interconnecting both opposite surfaces of the printed circuit board.
  • a second edge 4 being oriented substantially transverse with respect to the first edge 3, is similarly connected in series via a rectifier circuitry 8 and a discrete resistive element 11 to an additional via 6 interconnecting both opposite surfaces of the printed circuit board.
  • the rectifier circuitries 7, 8 are implemented e.g. a single diode component. However, also other rectifier circuitries 7, 8 are possible, such as a diode structure having two anti-parallel arranged diode components for improved gain of the direct current energy.
  • the DC energy is retrieved by connecting to interconnection ports of the rectifier circuitries 7, 8 and can be fed to local energy buffers, such as a capacitor or a rechargeable battery.
  • circuitries 7, 8 and the discrete resistors 10, 11 might be connected to the other components of the patch 2 using several techniques, such as soldering, gluing or otherwise to obtain an electrical conducting connection.
  • a more complex diode structure can be employed to further enhance a direct current energy retrieval from the received radio waves.
  • geometries of the antenna patches can also be designed for performing wireless communication using radio waves having other frequencies, e.g. more or less than 2.45 GHz.
  • the resistor in stead of using a discrete resistor in series with a rectifier circuitry, can be implemented integral with a via structure interconnecting the printed pattern with the ground plane.

Landscapes

  • Waveguide Aerials (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a direct current energy supplying antenna structure for converting radio frequency energy to direct current energy. The antenna structure comprises a micro strip patch antenna and a rectifier circuitry. The antenna structure further comprises a resistive element connecting a printed pattern on a first side of a dielectric layer with a ground plane on a second, opposite to the first side of the dielectric layer near an edge of the strip patch. In addition, the rectifier circuitry is arranged in series with the resistive element.

Description

  • The invention relates to a direct current energy supplying antenna structure for converting radio frequency energy to direct current energy, comprising a micro strip patch antenna and a rectifier circuitry.
  • Such direct current energy supplying antenna structures are known for providing direct current energy to wireless mobile communication devices, thereby reducing the need for local energy suppliers, such as batteries.
  • In particular, a so-called rectenna is known wherein the micro strip patch antenna is connected to the rectifier circuitry.
  • However, an antenna that is connected to a rectifier cannot be used for communication purposes.
  • It is an object of the invention to provide a direct current energy supplying antenna structure according to the preamble, wherein the disadvantage identified above is reduced. In particular, the invention aims at obtaining a direct current energy supplying antenna structure according to the preamble wherein the antenna structure can be used for both providing direct current energy and wireless communicating. Thereto, according to the invention, the antenna structure further comprises a resistive element connecting a printed pattern on a first side of a dielectric layer with a ground plane on a second, opposite to the first side of the dielectric layer near an edge of the strip patch, and wherein the rectifier circuitry is arranged in series with the resistive element.
  • By applying the rectifier circuitry in an electrically conducting path between the printed pattern on a first side of a dielectric layer and a ground plane on the second side of the dielectric layer DC power can advantageously be retrieved from RF energy that is received by the antenna.
  • It is noted that antenna structure comprising a resistive element connecting a printed pattern on a first side of a dielectric layer with a ground plane on a second, opposite to the first side of the dielectric layer near an edge of the strip patch, is known per se, see e.g. 'Broadband circularly polarised square microstrip antenna using chip-resistor loading' by C.-Y. Huang a.o. in Antennas and Propagation, IEE Proceedings on Microwaves, 1999, page 94 sqq. Such lumped resistive connections of the printed pattern and a ground plane improve a bandwidth of the antenna and decrease a required antenna area, thus allowing miniaturization of micro strip patch antennas.
  • The direct current energy supplying antenna structure according to the invention can advantageously be used for mobile communication devices, especially in low power wireless communication applications with reduced power sources, or in applications wherein the use of local power sources is even undesired or impossible. Examples of low power wireless communication applications are devices for local area networks.
  • In a preferred embodiment the direct current energy supplying antenna structure further comprises an additional resistive element connecting a printed pattern on a first side of a dielectric layer with a ground plane on a second, opposite to the first side of the dielectric layer near an additional edge of the strip patch, wherein the edge and the additional edge are oriented substantially transverse with respect to each other and wherein the additional rectifier circuitry is arranged in series with the additional resistive element. In the preferred embodiment more DC energy can be obtained from RF waves as radio waves having different polarizations interact substantially with each or both rectifier circuitries.
  • Other advantageous embodiments according to the invention are described in the following claims.
  • By way of example only, an embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which
  • Fig. 1 shows a direct current energy supplying antenna structure according to the invention.
  • The antenna structure 1 comprises a micro strip patch antenna 2 implemented in a planar structure. The antenna 2 is connected to an output port 9 via a transmission line segment that is realized in the same technology.
  • The transmission line and the patch 2 are realized using micro strip technology. In doing so, a ground plate of a printed circuit board serves as the earth, while on the opposite side of the board an electrically conducting pattern is printed. It is noted, however, that also other techniques could be used, such as etching techniques. The printed circuit board has dielectric properties to electromagnetically couple the printed pattern and the ground plate. In particular, the transmission line segment is formed as printed tracks. The patch is formed as a rectangular plane section that is designated for optimal receipt and transmission of e.g. 2.45 GHz.
  • A first edge 3 of the patch 2 is connected via a rectifier circuitry 7 in series with a discrete resistive element 10 to an electrically conducting via 5 that is connected to the ground plane of the antenna structure 1. By using the resistive element 10 the bandwidth of the antenna is enlarged while sizes of the patch antenna 1 are kept small. The discrete resistive element 10 is assembled on the side of the printed circuit board on which the electrically conducting pattern is printed. Alternatively, the discrete resistive element 10 is arranged in the via 5 interconnecting both opposite surfaces of the printed circuit board. A second edge 4 being oriented substantially transverse with respect to the first edge 3, is similarly connected in series via a rectifier circuitry 8 and a discrete resistive element 11 to an additional via 6 interconnecting both opposite surfaces of the printed circuit board.
  • The rectifier circuitries 7, 8 are implemented e.g. a single diode component. However, also other rectifier circuitries 7, 8 are possible, such as a diode structure having two anti-parallel arranged diode components for improved gain of the direct current energy. The DC energy is retrieved by connecting to interconnection ports of the rectifier circuitries 7, 8 and can be fed to local energy buffers, such as a capacitor or a rechargeable battery.
  • The circuitries 7, 8 and the discrete resistors 10, 11 might be connected to the other components of the patch 2 using several techniques, such as soldering, gluing or otherwise to obtain an electrical conducting connection.
  • Further, a more complex diode structure can be employed to further enhance a direct current energy retrieval from the received radio waves.
  • The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described herein. It will be understood that many variants are possible.
  • As an example, geometries of the antenna patches can also be designed for performing wireless communication using radio waves having other frequencies, e.g. more or less than 2.45 GHz.
  • In addition, in stead of using a discrete resistor in series with a rectifier circuitry, the resistor can be implemented integral with a via structure interconnecting the printed pattern with the ground plane.
  • Other such variants will be obvious for the person skilled in the art and are considered to lie within the scope of the invention as formulated in the following claims.

Claims (4)

  1. A direct current energy supplying antenna structure for converting radio frequency energy to direct current energy, comprising a micro strip patch antenna and a rectifier circuitry, wherein the antenna structure further comprises a resistive element connecting a printed pattern on a first side of a dielectric layer with a ground plane on a second, opposite to the first side of the dielectric layer near an edge of the strip patch, and wherein the rectifier circuitry is arranged in series with the resistive element.
  2. A direct current energy supplying antenna structure according to claim 1, wherein the rectifier comprises a single diode component.
  3. A direct current energy supplying antenna structure according to claim 1, wherein the rectifier comprises two anti-parallel placed diode components.
  4. A direct current energy supplying antenna structure according to any of the previous claims, further comprising an additional resistive element connecting a printed pattern on a first side of a dielectric layer with a ground plane on a second, opposite to the first side of the dielectric layer near an additional edge of the strip patch, wherein the edge and the additional edge are oriented substantially transverse with respect to each other and wherein the additional rectifier circuitry is arranged in series with the additional resistive element.
EP07103007A 2007-03-12 2007-03-12 A direct current energy supplying antenna structure Withdrawn EP1970994A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP07103007A EP1970994A1 (en) 2007-03-12 2007-03-12 A direct current energy supplying antenna structure
EP08723893A EP2132824A1 (en) 2007-03-12 2008-03-12 A direct current energy supplying antenna structure
PCT/NL2008/050142 WO2008111836A1 (en) 2007-03-12 2008-03-12 A direct current energy supplying antenna structure

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP07103007A EP1970994A1 (en) 2007-03-12 2007-03-12 A direct current energy supplying antenna structure

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1970994A1 true EP1970994A1 (en) 2008-09-17

Family

ID=37907083

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07103007A Withdrawn EP1970994A1 (en) 2007-03-12 2007-03-12 A direct current energy supplying antenna structure
EP08723893A Withdrawn EP2132824A1 (en) 2007-03-12 2008-03-12 A direct current energy supplying antenna structure

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08723893A Withdrawn EP2132824A1 (en) 2007-03-12 2008-03-12 A direct current energy supplying antenna structure

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (2) EP1970994A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2008111836A1 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS611102A (en) * 1984-01-13 1986-01-07 Japan Radio Co Ltd Microstrip antenna circuit switching polarized wave
EP0257544A2 (en) * 1986-08-22 1988-03-02 Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-GmbH Receiving device for microwave signals
DE4010658A1 (en) * 1989-04-03 1990-10-04 Yamatake Honeywell Co Ltd MICROWAVE POWER RECEIVER
US5671133A (en) * 1994-02-10 1997-09-23 Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co., Ltd. Electric power receiving and supplying circuit

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS611102A (en) * 1984-01-13 1986-01-07 Japan Radio Co Ltd Microstrip antenna circuit switching polarized wave
EP0257544A2 (en) * 1986-08-22 1988-03-02 Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-GmbH Receiving device for microwave signals
DE4010658A1 (en) * 1989-04-03 1990-10-04 Yamatake Honeywell Co Ltd MICROWAVE POWER RECEIVER
US5671133A (en) * 1994-02-10 1997-09-23 Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co., Ltd. Electric power receiving and supplying circuit

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
J. THEEUWES ET AL: "Compact, efficient, low-cost rectenna analysis and design", URSI BENELUX MEETING, 12 May 2006 (2006-05-12), XP002429220 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2008111836A1 (en) 2008-09-18
EP2132824A1 (en) 2009-12-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US11133576B2 (en) Rectenna
US8085202B2 (en) Wideband, high isolation two port antenna array for multiple input, multiple output handheld devices
US20040012527A1 (en) Circularly-polarized-wave patch antenna which can be used in a wide frequency band
US7764242B2 (en) Broadband antenna system
US10090595B2 (en) Broadband rectenna
CN106299673A (en) A kind of small sized wide-band circular polarized antenna
Fakharian RF energy harvesting using high impedance asymmetric antenna array without impedance matching network
Kumar et al. A plug-in type integrated rectenna cell for scalable RF battery using wireless energy harvesting system
WO2013000210A1 (en) Antenna and wireless communication device
US6646619B2 (en) Broadband antenna assembly of matching circuitry and ground plane conductive radiating element
US6697023B1 (en) Built-in multi-band mobile phone antenna with meandering conductive portions
Merola et al. UHF planar ultra-wideband modular antenna (PUMA) arrays
US6765537B1 (en) Dual uncoupled mode box antenna
Alja’afreh et al. A dual-port, dual-polarized and wideband slot rectenna for ambient RF energy harvesting
Ren et al. Bow-tie retrodirective rectenna
CN102800948B (en) Antenna and wireless communication apparatus
EP1970994A1 (en) A direct current energy supplying antenna structure
Yang et al. A novel compact printed rectenna for communication systems
CN102810736A (en) Antennas and Wireless Communication Devices
KR100872685B1 (en) Inverted f antenna
Montgomery et al. High-efficiency 10-GHz low-cost scalable rectenna subarrays
EP1450437A1 (en) Ring-shaped embedded antenna
Hiramatsu et al. The design of mW-class compact size rectenna using sharp directional antenna
US8130151B2 (en) Monopole antenna with ultra wide band
KR20020048358A (en) The small patch antenna using Planar Inverted F Antenna

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA HR MK RS

AKX Designation fees paid
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8566

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20090318