Multi-source ambient energy power supply for embedded devices or remote sensor or RFID networks
First Claim
1. An ambient energy collector and power supply device comprising:
- an ambient electromagnetic energy collector that couples to an ambient electromagnetic field around the device to extract energy from the ambient electromagnetic field, and an associated energy storage device for storing the extracted energy and supplying an energy output therefrom to an energy-using device, wherein the ambient electromagnetic energy collector has an inductor structure for coupling to a magnetic field component of the ambient electromagnetic field so that it can be substantially reduced in size as compared to an antenna structure for coupling to the electric field component of the ambient electromagnetic field.
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Abstract
An ambient electromagnetic energy collector has a magnetic core of high permeability ferromagnetic material wrapped in an inductor coil for coupling primarily to a magnetic field component of a propagating transverse electromagnetic (TEM) wave. For coupling to electromagnetic waves of a wide range of frequencies and magnitudes, the collector is coupled to a multi-phase transformer connected to a multi-phase diode voltage multiplier to provide a current source output to an associated energy storage device. An output controller supplies output power as needed to the associated energy-using device. Preferred types of ferromagnetic materials include nickel-iron alloys with a small percentage of silicon, molybdenum, or copper. It may be combined with other types of ambient energy collectors, such as acoustic/vibration, thermoelectric, and photovoltaic collectors, in a multi-source device provided with a collector interface for converting the different outputs for storage in a common energy storage device. The multi-source ambient energy collector device can be used to supply power to embedded devices, remotely deployed wireless sensors or RFID tags, and other types of monitoring devices distributed over large areas or in industrial environments.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An ambient energy collector and power supply device comprising:
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an ambient electromagnetic energy collector that couples to an ambient electromagnetic field around the device to extract energy from the ambient electromagnetic field, and an associated energy storage device for storing the extracted energy and supplying an energy output therefrom to an energy-using device, wherein the ambient electromagnetic energy collector has an inductor structure for coupling to a magnetic field component of the ambient electromagnetic field so that it can be substantially reduced in size as compared to an antenna structure for coupling to the electric field component of the ambient electromagnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for collecting ambient energy and supplying power to a low-power energy-using device deployed or embedded remotely in a field application comprising:
coupling an ambient electromagnetic energy collector to a magnetic field component of an ambient electromagnetic field in order to extract energy from the ambient electromagnetic field, and storing the extracted energy in an associated energy storage device, so that power can be supplied therefrom to the low-power energy-using device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A multi-source ambient energy collector and power supply device for supplying power to a low-power energy-using device deployed or embedded remotely in a field application comprising:
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a plurality of types of ambient energy collectors each for extracting energy from a different source of ambient energy available in the field around the device; and
a multi-source ambient energy collector interface which is coupled to the different outputs of the plurality of types of ambient energy collectors and converts the outputs into a common electrical form for storage in an associated electrical energy storage device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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- 18. An ambient electromagnetic energy collector that couples to an ambient electromagnetic field around the device to extract energy from the ambient electromagnetic field, having an inductor structure for coupling to a magnetic field component of the ambient electromagnetic field so that the collector can be substantially reduced in size as compared to an antenna structure for coupling to the electric field component of the ambient electromagnetic field.
Specification