Interconnect sensor platform with energy harvesting
First Claim
1. An electrical connector comprising:
- a housing;
a plurality of power and signal line conductors passing through the housing;
an energy harvesting device, a power controller device and a DC power source provided in the housing, the energy harvesting device inductively coupled to at least one of the plurality of power and signal line conductors, the at least one of the plurality of power and signal line conductors through the energy harvesting device providing energy to the power controller device and the DC power source;
the power controller device having instructions programmed thereon or implemented in the integrated circuit for controlling a flow of power between the energy harvesting device, the DC power source, and a microcontroller;
at least one sensor device in electrical communication with the microcontroller, the at least one sensor device provided in the housing and arranged to detect at least one parameter within the housing and communicate at least one parameter to the microcontroller; and
an output communication channel provided in the housing for communicating data from the microcontroller associated with at least one sensor device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interconnect device includes a body portion with conductors passing through the body portion. An energy harvesting device, a power controller device and a rechargeable DC power source are configured such that the power controller device includes instructions programmed thereon for controlling the flow of power between the energy harvesting device, the DC power source, and a microcontroller. Sensor devices are in electrical communication with the microcontroller. The sensors are arranged to detect parameters associated with the interconnect device and communicate the parameters to the microcontroller. An output device communicates data from the microcontroller associated with the at least one sensor.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An electrical connector comprising:
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a housing; a plurality of power and signal line conductors passing through the housing; an energy harvesting device, a power controller device and a DC power source provided in the housing, the energy harvesting device inductively coupled to at least one of the plurality of power and signal line conductors, the at least one of the plurality of power and signal line conductors through the energy harvesting device providing energy to the power controller device and the DC power source; the power controller device having instructions programmed thereon or implemented in the integrated circuit for controlling a flow of power between the energy harvesting device, the DC power source, and a microcontroller; at least one sensor device in electrical communication with the microcontroller, the at least one sensor device provided in the housing and arranged to detect at least one parameter within the housing and communicate at least one parameter to the microcontroller; and an output communication channel provided in the housing for communicating data from the microcontroller associated with at least one sensor device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A smart electrical connector comprising:
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a housing having a plurality of power and signal line conductors positioned therein; an independent power mode controller having programmed software in a memory for managing a power flow between a first power source, a second power source and a load; the first power source comprising an energy harvesting circuit inductively coupled to at least one of the plurality of power and signal line conductors; the second power source comprising a rechargeable DC battery; at least one of the plurality of power and signal line conductors through the energy harvesting device providing energy to the power mode controller and the rechargeable DC battery and the load comprising a microcontroller connected to a plurality of sensing elements and an output element; wherein the power mode controller, the first power source, the second power source, the microcontroller, the sensing elements and the output element comprise miniaturized components housed within the housing of the electrical connector. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification