System for Energy Harvesting and/or Generation, Storage, and Delivery
First Claim
1. A method for delivering power to a load, the method comprising the steps of:
- collecting charge from an energy source;
boosting a voltage of the collected charge with a charge pump;
controllably charging a supercapacitor to a threshold voltage;
controllably charging a battery from the supercapacitor; and
delivering power from the supercapacitor to a load.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for harvesting, generating, storing, and delivering energy to a load, particularly for remote or inaccessible applications. The device preferably comprises one or more energy sources, at least one supercapacitor, at least one rechargeable battery, and a controller. The charging of the energy storage devices and the delivery of power to the load is preferably dynamically varied to maximize efficiency. A low power consumption charge pump circuit is preferably employed to collect power from low power energy sources while also enabling the delivery of higher voltage power to the load. The charging voltage is preferably programmable, enabling one device to be used for a wide range of specific applications.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for delivering power to a load, the method comprising the steps of:
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collecting charge from an energy source;
boosting a voltage of the collected charge with a charge pump;
controllably charging a supercapacitor to a threshold voltage;
controllably charging a battery from the supercapacitor; and
delivering power from the supercapacitor to a load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for delivering power to a load, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one energy source;
a charge pump for boosting a voltage of charge collected from said energy source;
a control module;
a battery; and
one or more supercapacitors for charging said battery and delivering power to a load;
wherein said control module controls charging of said supercapacitors to a threshold voltage by said charge pump. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification