Powering devices using RF energy harvesting
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an antenna configured to wirelessly receive energy from a source that is remote from the apparatus;
a power harvester electrically coupled to the antenna and configured to convert the energy received at the antenna to a DC voltage to produce a first power associated with the DC voltage;
a regulator coupled to the power harvester and configured to regulate the first power associated with the DC voltage to produce a regulated power;
an alternative power source configured to produce a second power different from the first power and the regulated power; and
a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device electrically coupled to the antenna and configured to wirelessly communicate with the source via the antenna, the RFID device electrically coupled to the alternative power source, the power harvester and the regulator, the RFID device including an integrated circuit configured to operate based on at least one of the first power received from the power harvester, the regulated power received from the regulator, or the second power received from the alternative power source.
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Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus for an application including a core device for the application. The apparatus includes a power (preferably RF energy) harvester connected to the core device to power the core device. Also disclosed is a method for an application. The method includes the steps of converting RF energy into usable energy. There is the step of powering the core device with the usable energy.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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an antenna configured to wirelessly receive energy from a source that is remote from the apparatus; a power harvester electrically coupled to the antenna and configured to convert the energy received at the antenna to a DC voltage to produce a first power associated with the DC voltage; a regulator coupled to the power harvester and configured to regulate the first power associated with the DC voltage to produce a regulated power; an alternative power source configured to produce a second power different from the first power and the regulated power; and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device electrically coupled to the antenna and configured to wirelessly communicate with the source via the antenna, the RFID device electrically coupled to the alternative power source, the power harvester and the regulator, the RFID device including an integrated circuit configured to operate based on at least one of the first power received from the power harvester, the regulated power received from the regulator, or the second power received from the alternative power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus, comprising:
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an antenna configured to wirelessly receive energy from a source that is remote from the apparatus; a power harvester electrically coupled to the antenna and including a rectifier configured to convert the energy received at the antenna to a DC voltage such that the power harvester is configured to produce a first power associated with the DC voltage; an alternative power source electrically coupled to the power harvester and configured to produce a second power different from the first power, the alternative power source configured to supply the second power to the power harvester such that the rectifier operates, at least in part, based on the second power; and an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the power harvester and configured to operate based, at least in part, on the first power received from the power harvester. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus, comprising:
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an antenna configured to wirelessly receive energy from a source that is remote from the apparatus; a power harvester electrically coupled to the antenna and configured to convert the energy received at the antenna to a DC voltage to produce a first power associated with the DC voltage; an alternative power source electrically coupled to the power harvester and configured to produce a second power different from the first power, the alternative power source configured to supply the second power to the power harvester such that the power harvester operates, at least in part, based on the second power, the alternative power source is configured to receive a third power from the power harvester, the alternative power source configured to produce a fourth power that includes the third power; and an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the power harvester and configured to operate based, at least in part, on the first power received from the power harvester, the integrated circuit electrically coupled to the alternative power source and configured to operate based at least in part on the fourth power received from the alternative power source.
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Specification