University of Washington

Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Joshua F Ensworth

Matthew Stephen Reynolds

Jonathan J Hull

Sergey Chemishkian

Ken Gudan

Kenneth F Gudan

Alexander Tung Hoang

Stewart Thomas

Examples described herein include devices and methods that may facilitate interoperability between backscatter devices and wireless communication devices. For example, backscatter devices and methods for backscattering are described that provide a transmitted backscattered signal formatted in accordance with a wireless communication protocol (e.g. Bluetooth Low Energy, WiFi, IEEE 802.11, or IEEE 802.15.4). Such communication may reduce or eliminate any modifications required to wireless communication devices necessary to receive and decode backscattered signals.

Devices and methods for backscatter communication using one or more wireless communication protocols including Bluetooth low energy examples

Examples of receivers and receiver techniques are described herein. An example system may include a carrier source that may provide a wireless carrier signal and a wireless communication device, separate from the carrier source. The wireless communication device may provide a wireless communication signal containing data. A receiver may include an antenna positioned to receive the wireless carrier signal and the wireless communication signal, a two-port mixer coupled to the antenna and configured to mix the wireless carrier signal and the wireless communication signal to provide an intermediate frequency signal, and a demodulator configured to extract, at least in part, the data from the intermediate frequency signal.

Two-port mixers and systems, receivers, and methods using same

A DC-DC boost converter and apparatus including the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the DC-DC converter comprises an input for receiving a first voltage at a first level, where the first voltage is negative; a transformer coupled to the input to convert the first voltage to a second voltage at a second level, where the second level is higher than the first level and the second voltage is positive; and an output connected to the transformer to output the second voltage.

DC-DC boost converter

Devices and methods for backscatter communication using one or more wireless communication protocols including bluetooth low energy examples

A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for harvesting ambient energy. In one embodiment, an energy harvester comprises: a first RF rectifier to output a first voltage determined by rectified RF energy in response to received RF energy; a first energy reservoir coupled to the first RF rectifier to store energy at the first voltage; a DC/DC converter coupled to the first energy reservoir to convert the first voltage to a second voltage; a second reservoir coupled to the DC/DC converter to store energy at the second voltage, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage; and a third reservoir coupled to the second reservoir to receive energy transferred from the second reservoir periodically.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Joshua F Ensworth