ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEM

• US 20110115605A1
• Filed: 11/17/2010
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Strattec Security Corporation
• Original Assignee: Strattec Security Corporation
• Inventors: Salah, Abdel, Dimig, Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US12/948,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20110115605A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/406 Power supply in the remote key
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00507 keyless data carrier having more than one function
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00603 by power transmission from lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00793 by Hertzian waves
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00984 fob
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof

Abstract

An energy harvesting system for use with a vehicle including an RF transmitter positionable in a vehicle and a key fob having an antenna configured to receive an RF signal from the RF transmitter and convert the RF signal to electrical energy, a power management circuit configured to distribute the electrical energy in the key fob, and an energy storage device configured to store at least some of the electrical energy converted from the RF signal.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle;

a key fob;

a first antenna coupled to the key fob;

a second antenna coupled to the vehicle;

a power management circuit coupled to the key fob, the power management circuit being capable of converting a radio frequency signal to electrical energy; and

an energy storage device coupled to the key fob, the energy storage device selectively receiving electrical energy from the power management circuit.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second antenna is a multi-purpose antenna.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the power management circuit coupled to the key fob communicates with the vehicle to begin sending a radio frequency signal from the vehicle to the key fob.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an oscillator for generating a command signal for transmittal to a vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the command signal is a signal which authorizes at least one of a vehicle starting circuit to start, a vehicle trunk to open, and a vehicle door to unlock.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is a 3D low frequency antenna.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is electrically coupled to the power management circuit, and the power management circuit is electrically coupled to the energy storage device.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the energy storage device is a thin-film battery.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the power management circuit controls the distribution of electrical energy to and from the energy storage device.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor, wherein the power management circuit can distribute electrical energy converted from a radio frequency wave directly to the microprocessor.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second antenna is a high frequency antenna and the power management circuit is able to convert a radio frequency signal sent by the second antenna to electrical energy for charging the energy storage device when the key fob is at least 10 meters away from the second antenna.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the second antenna is a low frequency antenna and the power management circuit is able to convert a radio frequency signal sent by the second antenna to electrical energy for charging the energy storage device when the key fob is at least 1 meter away from the second antenna.

13. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the power management circuit sends a signal to the vehicle to deactivate the second antenna.

14. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the power management circuit sends a signal to the vehicle to activate the second antenna.

15. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle;

a key fob;

a 3D-antenna coupled to the key fob;

a second antenna coupled to the vehicle for sending a radio frequency signal to the key fob;

a power management circuit coupled to the key fob, the power management circuit being capable of converting a radio frequency signal to electrical energy; and

an energy storage device coupled to the key fob, the energy storage device selectively receiving electrical energy from the power management circuit.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 further comprising:

a oscillator coupled to the key fob for sending a signal to the vehicle; and

a plurality of antennas coupled to the vehicle for sending and receiving radio frequency signals to and from the key fob.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 further comprising a passive start system for starting the vehicle.

18. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the power management circuit sends a signal to the vehicle to deactivate the second antenna.

19. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the power management circuit sends a signal to the vehicle to activate the second antenna.