WIRELESS SENSOR WITH ENERGY SCAVENGER

• US 20120261991A1
• Filed: 11/18/2009
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABet SKF
• Original Assignee: ABet SKF
• Inventors: Tatar, Florin, De Wit, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 9,407,112 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/48
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/32 for charging batteries from a charging set comprising a non-electric prime mover rotating at constant speed
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004

Abstract

An apparatus (100) comprises a wireless sensor system (102) with electronic circuitry (104) and a power supply (106) for powering the electronic circuitry. The power supply comprises a primary cell (108) and an energy scavenger (110). The energy scavenger scavenges ambient energy and converts the scavenged ambient energy into electric energy. The sensor system is configured for having the primary cell power the electronic circuitry when the energy scavenger is inactive. The system is configured for performing at least one of having the energy scavenger power the electronic circuitry via the primary cell when the energy scavenger is active, using a capacitance of the primary cell as a buffer for the electric energy; and having the energy scavenger recharge the primary cell.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a system that includes:

electronic circuitry; and

a power supply for powering the electronic circuitry;

wherein;

the power supply comprises;

a primary cell; and

an energy scavenger operative to scavenge ambient energy and convert the scavenged ambient energy into electric energy;

the system is configured for having the primary cell power the electronic circuitry when the energy scavenger is inactive; and

the system is configured for performing at least one of;

having the energy scavenger power the electronic circuitry via the primary cell when the energy scavenger is active, using a capacitance of the primary cell as a buffer for the electric energy; and

having the energy scavenger recharge the primary cell.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the electronic circuitry is configured for selectively operating in at least one of a low-power mode and in a high power mode;

the system is configured for having the electronic circuitry operate in the low-power mode when the energy scavenger is inactive; and

the system is configured for having the electronic circuitry operate in the high-power mode when the energy scavenger is active.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the system has a watchdog circuit operative to detect that the energy scavenger has become active.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a microprocessor and wherein the watchdog circuit is part of the microprocessor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a capacitor electrically connected in parallel to the primary cell.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system is operative as a wireless sensor configured for condition monitoring of the apparatus.

7. A system that includes:

electronic circuitry; and

a power supply for powering the electronic circuitry;

wherein;

the power supply comprises;

a primary cell; and

an energy scavenger operative to scavenge ambient energy and convert the scavenged ambient energy into electric energy;

the system is configured for having the primary cell power the electronic circuitry when the energy scavenger is inactive; and

the system is configured for performing at least one of;

having the energy scavenger power the electronic circuitry via the primary cell when the energy scavenger is active, using a capacitance of the primary cell as a buffer for the electric energy; and

having the energy scavenger recharge the primary cell.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein

the electronic circuitry is configured for selectively operating in at least one of a low-power mode and in a high power mode;

the system is configured for having the electronic circuitry operate in the low-power mode when the energy scavenger is inactive; and

the system is configured for having the electronic circuitry operate in the high-power mode when the energy scavenger is active.

9. The system of claim 8, having a watchdog circuit operative to detect that the energy scavenger has become active.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a microprocessor and wherein the watchdog circuit is part of the microprocessor.

11. The system of claim 7, comprising a capacitor electrically connected in parallel to the primary cell.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising being configured as a wireless sensor for condition monitoring of an apparatus.

13. A power supply for powering electronic circuitry, wherein:

the power supply comprises;

a primary cell; and

an energy scavenger operative to scavenge ambient energy and convert the scavenged ambient energy into electric energy;

the power supply is configured for having the primary cell power the electronic circuitry when the energy scavenger is inactive; and

the power supply is configured for performing at least one of;

having the energy scavenger power the electronic circuitry via the primary cell when the energy scavenger is active, using a capacitance of the primary cell as a buffer for the electric energy; and

having the energy scavenger recharge the primary cell.

14. The power supply of claim 13, comprising a capacitor electrically connected in parallel to the primary cell.

15. A method of powering electronic circuitry, the method comprising:

scavenging ambient energy and converting the scavenged ambient energy into electric energy; and

at least one of;

supplying the electric energy to the electronic circuitry via a primary cell when scavenging, while using a capacitance of the primary cell as a buffer for the electric energy; and

recharging the primary cell.