A Reconfigurable, Highly Efficient Power Receiver

Stanford researchers have developed a miniaturized reconfigurable receiver to efficiently capture acoustic power. The receiver can be operated with programmable components in an adaptive closed-loop system such that power transfer is maximized under different operating conditions or undesired link aberrations. Additionally, the external power transmitter is also reconfigurable, providing further degrees of freedom for maximizing overall system efficiency. This tech has been demonstrated for wireless ultrasonically powered implantable medical devices, but can also be applied to other types of receivers and energy harvesters.