Hybrid power harvesting and method

• US 20080054638A1
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powercast Corporation
• Original Assignee: Powercast Corporation
• Inventors: Harrist, Daniel, Shearer, John, Greene, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,159,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1R
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/05 using capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence

Abstract

A system of providing energy includes a transmitter for sending wirelessly a first type of energy and at least a second type of energy different from the first type of energy. The system includes a receiver for receiving wirelessly the first type of energy and converting it to usable energy. A transmitter for transmitting power wirelessly. A receiver for receiving wirelessly transmitted power. A method for providing energy.

Claims

1. A system of providing energy comprising:

a transmitter for sending wirelessly a first type of energy and at least a second type of energy different from the first type of energy; and

a receiver for receiving wirelessly the first type of energy and converting it to usable energy.

2. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the first and second energies are sent simultaneously from the transmitter.

3. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the first and second energies are sent at different times from the transmitter.

4. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the first type of energy is RF energy.

5. A system as described in claim 1 including a component and wherein the receiver receives the second type of energy and includes at least a power harvester connected to the component which converts the first and second types of energy into usable energy.

6. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the usable energy is electrical energy.

7. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the receiver receives the second type of energy simultaneously with the first type of energy.

8. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the receiver receives the second type of energy at different times then when the receiver receives the first type of energy.

9. A system as described in claim 5 wherein the receiver receives wirelessly the second type of energy and converts it to usable energy to power the component.

10. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the transmitter includes at least a first point of emission from which the first and second types of energy are sent.

11. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the receiver includes a least a first point of reception at which the first and second energies are received.

12. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the transmitter includes a first point of emission and a second point of emission from which the first and second types of energy are sent, respectively.

13. A system as described in claim 12 wherein the first point of emission has a first coverage area and the second point of emission has a second coverage area.

14. A system as described in claim 13 wherein the first and second coverage areas overlap.

15. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the first type of energy and the second type of energy are either RF, inductive, capacitive, visible light, infrared light, ultraviolet light, solar, sub sonic, sonic, ultra sonic, vibration, wind, or pressure.

16. A system as described in claim 12 wherein the first point of emission includes a near field antenna and the second point of emission includes a far field antenna.

17. A system as described in claim 16 wherein the transmitter includes a first frequency generator connected to the near field antenna that produces power at a first frequency, and a second frequency generator connected to the far field antenna that produces power at the second frequency.

18. A system as described in claim 17 wherein the transmitter includes an amplifier connected to the first and second frequency generators.

19. A system as described in claim 17 wherein the transmitter includes a controller in electrical communication with the first and second frequency generators to determine which antenna transmits power at a given time.

20. A system as described in claim 19 wherein the controller causes the power to be pulsed by the first and second frequency generators.

21. A system as described in claim 20 wherein the transmitter includes a combiner in electrical communication with the first and second frequency generators.

22. A system as described in claim 21 wherein the transmitter includes a switch connected to the combiner which combines the power at the first frequency and at the second frequency into one transmission to the switch, which directs the one transmission to the first point of emission or the second point of emission or to neither point of emission.

23. A system as described in claim 22 wherein the first point of emission has a high impedance regarding the second frequency so essentially no power is transmitted from the first point of emission at the second frequency, and the second point of emission has a high impedance regarding the first frequency so essentially no power is transmitted from the second point of emission at the first frequency.

24. A system as described in claim 23 wherein the transmitter includes an in-line circulator in electrical communication with the switch that reroutes any reflections or feedback to a matched load.

25. A system as described in claim 16 wherein the transmitter includes a dual frequency generator in electrical communication with the near field antenna and the far field antenna that transmits power at a first frequency to the near field antenna and at a second frequency to the far field antenna.

26. A system as described in claim 25 wherein the transmitter includes a first amplifier in electrical communication with and disposed between the dual frequency generator and the near field antenna, and a second amplifier in electrical communication with and disposed between the dual frequency generator and the far field antenna.

27. A system as described in claim 26 wherein the transmitter includes a controller in electrical communication with the dual frequency generator and the near field and far field antennas that controls which antenna transmits power at any given time.

28. A system as described in claim 16 wherein the transmitter includes a frequency generator, a controller in electrical communication with the frequency generator which controls the frequency at which power is produced by the frequency generator, an amplifier in electrical communication with the controller which controls the amplifiers again, a switch in electrical communication with the controller to control the switch and whether the power is directed to the near field antenna and the far field antenna.

29. A system as described in claim 1 including a dual band antenna/coil which transmits both RF and magnetic energy.

30. A system as described in claim 29 wherein the dual band antenna/coil includes a broadband antenna.

31. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the receiver includes at least a first point of reception at which the first energy is received and a second point of reception at which the second energy is received.

32. A system as described in claim 31 wherein the receiver includes a first rectification circuit and a second rectification circuit.

33. A system as described in claim 32 wherein the first rectification circuit receives and converts magnetic energy and the second rectification circuit receives and converts RF energy.

34. A system as described in claim 33 wherein the first point of reception includes a near field antenna in electrical communication with the first rectifier circuit and the second point of reception includes a far field antenna in electrical communication with the second rectifier circuit.

35. A system as described in claim 34 wherein the receiver includes a charge storage component in electrical indication with the near field antenna and the far field antenna.

36. A system as described in claim 35 wherein the receiver includes a controller which controls the rectification circuits.

37. A system as described in claim 34 wherein the receiver includes a dual band or broadband rectification circuit.

38. A system as described in claim 37 wherein the receiver includes a controller for controlling the dual band or broadband rectification circuit.

39. A system as described in claim 38 wherein the impedance of the near field antenna does not affect the far field antenna and the impedance of the far field antenna does not affect the near field antenna.

40. A system as described in claim 39 wherein the impedance of the near field antenna is used to help impedance match the far field antenna to the dual band or broadband rectification circuit and the impedance of the far field antenna is used to help impedance match the near field antenna to the dual band or broadband rectification circuit.

41. A system as described in claim 34 wherein the near field antenna and the far field antenna are a single structure containing both a magnetic and electromagnetic capturing component.

42. A system as described in claim 41 wherein the structure has a first port for near field energy reception and a second port for far field energy reception.

43. A system as described in claim 42 wherein the receiver includes filters which electrically isolate the first port and the second port from each other.

44. A system as described in claim 41 wherein the structure has a single port which receives both near field magnetic energy and far field electromagnetic energy.

45. A system as described in claim 44 wherein the far field antenna includes a dipole having legs and the near field antenna includes a coil wound around a part of the dipole.

46. A system as described in claim 31 wherein the first point of reception and the second point of reception are in electrical communication with a device for powering the device.

47. A system as described in claim 46 wherein the receiver includes a first converting circuit and a second converting circuit electrically connected to the device and the first point of reception and the second point of reception, respectively, for powering the device.

48. A system as described in claim 46 wherein the receiver includes a charge storage component in electrical communication with the first point of reception and the second point of reception for charging the charge storage component.

49. A system as described in claim 31 wherein the receiver includes a single converting circuit for converting the first and second types of energy into usable energy.

50. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the first type of energy is RF energy and the second type of energy is light energy.

51. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the first type of energy is RF energy and the second type of energy is sonic energy.

52. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the first type of energy is RF energy and the second type of energy is vibration energy.

53. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the first type of energy is RF energy and the second type of energy is wind energy.

54. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the first type of energy is RF energy and the second type of energy is thermal energy.

55. A system as described in claim 1 wherein the first type of energy is RF energy and the second type of energy is pressure energy.

56. A transmitter for transmitting power wirelessly comprising:

a transmitter housing;

a first energy generator attached to the housing for producing a first type of wireless energy; and

at least a second energy generator attached to the housing for producing a second type of wireless energy different from the first type of energy.

57. A receiver for receiving wirelessly transmitted power comprising:

a receiver housing; and

at least a power harvester attached to the housing for receiving wirelessly a first type of energy and receiving wirelessly at least a second type of energy different from the first type of energy and converting the first and second energies into usable energy.

58. A method for providing energy comprising the steps of:

sending wirelessly from a transmitter a first type of energy and at least a second type of energy different from the first type of energy;

receiving wirelessly at a receiver the first type of energy; and

converting at the receiver the first type of energy to usable energy to power a component.

59. A method as described in claim 58 wherein the receiving step includes the step of receiving wirelessly at the receiver the first type of energy and at least the second type of energy;

and the converting step includes the step of converting at the receiver the first type of energy and the second type of energy to usable energy to power the component.

60. A system of providing energy comprising:

a transmitter for sending wirelessly n types energy, where n is greater than or equal to 2 and is an integer, and each of the n types of energy are different from each other; and

a receiver for receiving wirelessly the n types of energy converting each of the n types of energy into usable energy.