Inventors:
Donald Corey Martin - Pittsburgh PA, US
Charles E. Greene - Cabot PA, US
Philip Victor Pesavento - Huntington WV, US
Assignee:
Powercast Corporation - Ligonier PA
International Classification:
G05F 1/00
Abstract:
An apparatus includes a first converter module, a second converter module, and a sensor module. The first converter module converts a wireless power associated with an electromagnetic wave to a first DC voltage. The first converter module can include, for example, a Villiard cascade voltage multiplier, a precision rectifier, or a full-wave bridge rectifier. The sensor module monitors the first DC voltage. The second converter module converts the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage that is larger than the first DC voltage. The second converter module is enabled by the sensor module when the first DC voltage is above a first threshold voltage. The second converter module is disabled by the sensor module when the first DC voltage is below a second threshold voltage that is lower than the first threshold voltage. The second converter module provides power to a load based on the second DC voltage.