Wireless coded communication (WCC) devices with power harvesting power sources used in switches

• US 10,038,992 B1
• Filed: 07/23/2016
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Albert S. Penilla, Gary M. Zalewski
• Original Assignee: Albert S. Penilla, Gary M. Zalewski
• Inventors: Zalewski, Gary M., Penilla, Albert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mathew, Max
• Application Number:
  US15/217,973
• Time in Patent Office: 738 Days
• Field of Search: 455 661, 4554261, 455572-574, 455 412
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 11/002 Generators
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1607 Supply circuits converters H02M; filters therefor H02M1/14; voltage stabilisers G05F1/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3833 Hand-held transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

Devices, systems, and method are provided for wireless coded communication (WCC) devices, which are configured for wireless communication with other devices, e.g., over a network. A WCC device is a type of internet of things (IOT) device that can sense data, process data, send data, respond to data requests and exchange data with other WCC device, a network device, a user device, and/or systems over the internet. In some configurations, a WCC device may include a power source that enables usage of low power, e.g., to send data that is sensed, request data and/or communicate data wirelessly. WCC devices maybe function as standalone devices or may be integrated into other devices. In some configurations, a WCC device may include power harvesting circuitry, including power harvesting user controls. A WCC device may be pre-configured or coded to report occurrence of an event, log an event, log state, cause an action, send a message or request data from one or more end nodes. In some configurations, the devices enable communication over a wireless network, which enables access to the Internet and further enables cloud processing on data received or processing for data returned or communicated.

Claims

1. A wireless coded communication (WCC) device, comprising,

a wireless chip;

a microcontroller interfaced with the wireless chip;

a memory interfaced with the wireless chip;

a power storage cell;

a power pump coupled to a toggle switch configured to generate power in response to a mechanical force applied to an element of the power pump when a state of the toggle switch is manually changed, the power being rectified and transferred to the power storage cell enabling the WCC device to be powered on for a moment of time, where the power provided to the WCC device is based only on the power produced by a harvesting of energy from the mechanical force applied to the element;

said microcontroller programmed to sample the power output produced by the power pump, and read the state of the toggle switch, and transmit the state of the toggle switch in a form of a command to a desired end node, all during the moment of time the device is powered, and using only the energy harvested from the mechanical force applied to the toggle switch when the state of the toggle switch is manually changed.

2. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 1, wherein transmission of the command is received by a wireless receiver coupled to a remote switch that opens or closes a supply of power to an AC outlet or a light socket, based on the command.

3. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 1, wherein the WCC device further comprises,

a dimmer is associated the WCC device, the microcontroller is configured to perform an additional function to read a state of the dimmer.

4. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 3, wherein a dim level associated with the state of the dimmer is transmitted to the desired end node or to another end node.

5. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 3, wherein the memory of the WCC device includes a WCC ID that is transmitted to the desired end node or to another end node.

6. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 4, wherein automation commands are associated within bands of the dim level.

7. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 4, wherein the transmission is configured for receipt by the desired end node, the desired end node is a wireless receiver coupled to a remote switch that opens, closes or changes the dim level that controls a supply of power to an AC light socket of the desired end node, based on the command.

8. A wireless coded communication (WCC) device, comprising,

a wireless chip;

a microcontroller interfaced with the wireless chip;

a memory interfaced with the wireless chip;

a power storage cell;

a power pump configured to generate power in response to a mechanical force applied to an element of the power pump, the power being rectified and transferred to the power storage cell enabling the WCC device to be powered on for a moment of time, where the power provided to the WCC device is based only on the power produced by a harvesting of energy from the mechanical force applied to the element;

said microcontroller programmed to sample the power output produced by the power pump, select a function based on a profile of the sampled power output, and perform the function during the moment of time the WCC device is powered using the harvested energy;

wherein the profile of the sampled power output includes data that has encoding of information for an approximation of a trajectory, a force, or a beginning or an end state of an object that incidentally or directly caused the mechanical force.

9. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 8, wherein the object is a toggle switch, and the profile of the sampled power output encodes information as to whether the toggle switch was transitioned to an OFF state or ON state.

10. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 8, wherein the object is a door hinge of a door, and the profile of the sampled power output encodes information as to a change in an angle or position of the door hinge.

11. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 9, wherein the mechanical force applied to the element of the WCC device when transitioning from the OFF state to ON state results in the profile being that is different from the profile when transitioning from the ON state to the OFF state.

12. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 10, wherein the mechanical force applied to the element of the WCC device when opening the door results in the profile being a reverse of the profile for when closing the door.

13. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 10, wherein the door hinge includes protrusions that strike the element repeatedly during movement of the door.

14. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 13, wherein the selected function is based on counts of a number of protrusions based on a number of said strikes as read from the profile.

15. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 13, wherein at least one of the protrusions is larger than others.

16. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 14, wherein the WCC device further includes a FLASH memory and the WCC device stores the count in the FLASH memory.

17. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 15, wherein the microcontroller selects a different function to perform in response to the force caused by the larger protrusion.

18. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 8, wherein the object is a hinge, and the profile of the sampled power output encodes information as to a change in an angle or position of the hinge.

19. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 8, wherein the mechanical force applied to the element of the WCC is caused by flowing liquid and the function selected performs processing used to determine a flow rate of liquid, or, where the mechanical force applied to the element of the WCC is caused by flowing air and the function selected performs processing to sense an environmental condition associated with an air sample.

20. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 8, wherein selection of the function performed by the WCC device is further selected based on a condition that was stored in the memory of the WCC device during a previous activation cycle of the WCC device.

36. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 18, wherein the mechanical force applied to the element of the WCC device when opening the hinge results in the profile being a reverse of the profile for when closing the hinge, and, wherein the hinge includes protrusions that strike the element one or more times during movement of the hinge.

21. A wireless coded communication (WCC) device, comprising,

a wireless chip;

a microcontroller interfaced with the wireless chip;

a memory interfaced with the wireless chip;

a power storage cell; and

a switch being associated with an element for generating power in response to a mechanical force applied to the element, the generated power being transferred to the power storage cell enabling the WCC device to be powered on for a period of time, the generated power being harvested from the mechanical force applied to the element that is associated with the switch;

said microcontroller using harvested power to read a state of the switch, and based on the state of the switch, the microcontroller uses the wireless chip to transfer a command to an end node, the command being encoded with information usable by the end node to process a state change by the end node consistent with the command.

22. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 21, wherein the WCC device is associated with a microphone, the microcontroller is configured to receive voice input from a user via the microphone, the voice input being encoded into the command transferred to the end node.

23. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 21, wherein the WCC device includes a display screen that enables receipt of a selection from among a plurality of selections, the selection being encoded into the command transferred to the end node.

24. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 23, wherein the display screen is interconnected to the switch, such that manipulation of the display screen for making the selection represents at least some of the mechanical force applied to the element.

25. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 24, wherein the manipulation includes one or both of a turning of the display screen or pressing of the display screen to cause one or more mechanical forces transferred to the element of the switch.

26. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 21, wherein the WCC device is associated with a microphone and a speaker, the microcontroller is configured to receive voice input from a user via the microphone, the voice input being encoded into the command transferred to the end node and the speaker is configured to output one or more audible responses received from the end node in response to the command.

27. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 26, wherein the WCC device includes a display screen that enables receipt of a selection from among a plurality of selections, the selection being encoded into the command transferred to the end node, and the display screen is coupled to the switch, such that manipulation of the display screen for making the selection represents at least some of the mechanical force applied to the element, and the manipulation includes one or both of a turning of the display screen and pressing of the display screen to cause one or more mechanical forces to be transferred to the element of the switch.

28. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 21, wherein the WCC device is configured to send or receive an electromagnetic field to or from devices local to the WCC device, the electromagnetic field is used to either energize the WCC device or the WCC device energizes the devices local to the WCC device.

29. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 21, wherein the WCC device is configured to send or receive an electromagnetic field to or from devices local to the WCC device, and said electromagnetic field is used to at least partially track a position or orientation or a state of one or more of the devices local to the WCC device or the WCC device itself, or an environment surrounding the WCC device itself.

30. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 21, wherein when the WCC device is energized using said harvested power, the WCC device senses presence of a device placed within a sensing range of the WCC device.

31. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 30, wherein the end node processes the command based on data associated with the device that was sensed for said presence.

32. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 21, wherein the WCC device further functions as a passive WiFi device that additionally harvests energy from a radio frequency producing device that is proximate to the WCC device.

33. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 21, wherein the switch is part of a hinge, the mechanical force applied to the element is triggered responsive to movement of an object coupled to the hinge.

34. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 33, wherein a degree of movement of the hinge is configured to encode encodes information to be transferred with the command to the end node.

35. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 33, wherein the hinge includes protrusions that strike the element one or more times during movement of the object.

37. The wireless coded communication (WCC) device of claim 21, wherein the transferred command from the WCC device is used to perform two factor authentication to provide access to a secure online service or resource, or, wherein the WCC device performs functions associated with a challenge-response to facilitate access to a secure online service or resource, or, wherein the state of the switch is used to select an authentication service or online service or resource or website in which access is sought and the transferred command includes authentication criteria associated with the selection.