ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEM AND METHOD USING MULTIPLE ENERGY SOURCES
First Claim
1. An energy harvesting system comprising:
- a primary energy harvesting device for generating a first electrical output signal from energy harvested from a first energy source;
a secondary energy harvesting device for generating a second electrical output signal; and
a primary switching circuit adapted to be controlled by said second electrical output signal, and to receive said first electrical output signal, and to generate therefrom a final electrical output signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy harvesting system and method having improved efficiency. A primary energy harvesting device is used to generate a first electrical output signal. The first electrical output signal is applied to a first switching circuit. A secondary energy harvesting device is used to generate a second electrical output signal that is used to power a second switching circuit. The second switching circuit generates the switching drive signal for the first switching circuit, which in turn generates a final output signal. By using a second energy harvesting circuit operating in connection with a different structure, and a secondary switching circuit, less power from the signal generated by the primary energy harvesting device is needed to power the first switching circuit. This results in a greater percentage of the output power of the first signal being usable by an external device.
46 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An energy harvesting system comprising:
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a primary energy harvesting device for generating a first electrical output signal from energy harvested from a first energy source; a secondary energy harvesting device for generating a second electrical output signal; and a primary switching circuit adapted to be controlled by said second electrical output signal, and to receive said first electrical output signal, and to generate therefrom a final electrical output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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3. The system of 1, wherein said primary energy harvesting device comprises a thermoelectric device, and said first energy source comprises a thermoelectric energy source.
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11. An energy harvesting system comprising:
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a primary energy harvesting device for generating a first electrical output signal from energy harvested from a first energy source; a secondary energy harvesting device for generating a second electrical output signal; a primary switching circuit adapted to receive said first electrical output signal and to generate therefrom a final electrical output signal; and a secondary switching device responsive to said secondary energy harvesting device, and adapted to generate a second electrical signal for driving said primary switching circuit.
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19. A method for harvesting energy comprising:
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using a primary energy harvesting device to generate a first electrical output signal from energy harvested from a first energy source; using a secondary energy harvesting device for generating a second electrical output signal; and using a primary switching circuit adapted to be controlled by said second electrical output signal, and to receive said first electrical output signal, and to generate therefrom a final electrical output signal. amplify said final electrical output signal.
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Specification