ENERGY SELF-SUFFICIENT RADIOFREQUENCY TRANSMITTER

• US 20140364074A1
• Filed: 03/10/2014
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EnOcean GmbH
• Original Assignee: EnOcean GmbH
• Inventors: PISTOR, Klaus, SCHMIDT, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 9,887,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/127.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0458 Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages matching circuits in general H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1607 Supply circuits converters H02M; filters therefor H02M1/14; voltage stabilisers G05F1/46

Abstract

The energy self-sufficient radiofrequency transmitter has at least one electromechanical transducer with a rectifier circuit connected downstream and with a voltage converter circuit. A logic circuit configuration is connected to the voltage converter circuit. The logic circuit configuration has a sequence controller a memory in which an identification code is stored. The energy self-sufficient radiofrequency transmitter also has a radiofrequency transmission stage that is connected to the logic circuit configuration and a transmission antenna.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A switching system comprising:

an electromechanical generation means for generating an oscillating voltage;

a rectifier electrically connected to said generation means;

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said voltage regulator being electrically connected to an output side of said rectifier;

first signal transmission means electrically connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said first signal transmission means comprising a first electromagnetic signal generator subcircuit connected to a transmission antenna configured to transmit a first electromagnetic signal at frequency of between about 100 MHz and about 30 GHz;

signal reception means for receiving the first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmission means;

said signal reception means being adapted to generate a second signal in response to said first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmission means; and

a switch having a first position and a second position;

said switch being in communication with said signal reception means;

said switch being adapted to change between said first position and said second position in response to said second signal.

14. The switching system according to claim 13, wherein said electromechanical generation means is selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric transducer, an electrostrictive element, a magnetostrictive element, and an electromagnetic induction coil.

15. The switching system according to claim 13, further comprising:

electrical energy storage means having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said electrical storage means being electrically connected to the output side of said voltage regulator;

whereby said electrical energy storage means is adapted to store an electrical output of said voltage regulator,

and wherein said electrical energy storage means is adapted to supplement said electrical output of said voltage regulator to said first signal transmission means with said stored electrical output of said voltage regulator.

16. The switching system according to claim 15, wherein the first signal transmission means is configured to repeatedly transmit the first electromagnetic signal while sufficient electrical energy remains in the electrical energy store.

17. The switching system according to claim 13, further comprising:

electrical energy storage means having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said electrical energy storage means being electrically connected to the output side of said rectifier;

whereby said electrical energy storage means is adapted to store an electrical output of said rectifier;

and wherein said electrical energy storage means is adapted to supplement electrical output of said voltage regulator to said first signal transmission means with said stored electrical output of said rectifier.

18. The switching system according to claim 17, wherein the first signal transmission means is configured to repeatedly transmit the first electromagnetic signal while sufficient electrical energy remains in the electrical energy store.

19. A switching system comprising:

an electromechanical generator for generating an oscillating voltage;

a rectifier electrically connected to said generator;

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said voltage regulator being electrically connected to an output side of said rectifier;

a first signal transmitter electrically connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said first signal transmitter comprising a first electromagnetic signal generator subcircuit connected to a transmission antenna configured to transmit a first electromagnetic signal at frequency of between about 100 MHz and about 30 GHz;

a signal receiver for receiving the first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter;

said signal receiver being adapted to initiate an action in response to said first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter; and

a switch having a first condition and a second condition;

said switch being in communication with said signal receiver;

said switch being adapted to change between said first condition and said second condition in response to said initiated action.

20. The switching system according to claim 19, further comprising an electrical energy store for storing electrical energy generated by the electromechanical generator, wherein the first signal transmitter is configured to repeatedly transmit the first electromagnetic signal while sufficient electrical energy remains in the electrical energy store.

21. A switching system comprising:

an electromechanical generator for generating a voltage;

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

a first signal transmitter electrically connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said first signal transmitter comprising a first electromagnetic signal generator subcircuit connected to a transmission antenna configured to transmit a first electromagnetic signal at frequency of between about 100 MHz and about 30 GHz;

a signal receiver for receiving the first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter;

said signal receiver being adapted to initiate an action in response to said first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter; and

a switch having a first condition and a second condition;

said switch being in communication with said signal receiver;

said switch being adapted to change between said first condition and said second condition in response to said initiated action.

22. The switching system of claim 21, wherein the voltage generated by the electromechanical generator comprise an oscillating voltage, the switching system further comprises a rectifier coupled to an output of the electromechanical generator, and the input side of the voltage regulator is connected to the rectifier.

23. The switching system according to claim 21, further comprising an electrical energy store for storing electrical energy generated by the electromechanical transducer, wherein the first signal transmitter is configured to repeatedly transmit the first electromagnetic signal while sufficient electrical energy remains in the electrical energy store.

24. A self-powered switching system, comprising:

an electromechanical generator for generating a voltage across first and second electrical terminals;

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said voltage regulator being electrically connected to said first and second electrical terminals;

first signal transmission means electrically connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said first signal transmission means comprising a first electromagnetic signal generator subcircuit connected to a transmitter; and

a first tone generator subcircuit having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said tone generator subcircuit being connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said output side of said tone generator subcircuit being connected to said first electromagnetic signal generator subcircuit;

wherein said first tone generator and said first electromagnetic signal generator subcircuits comprise a first at least one programmable encoder circuit;

and wherein each of said first programmable encoder circuits is adapted to be programmed to generate one or more unique codes;

and wherein each of said unique codes generated by each of said first programmable encoder circuits is different from each of said unique codes generated by the others of said first programmable encoder circuits;

encryption logic for encrypting data to be output as a first electromagnetic signal via the first signal transmission means;

signal reception means for receiving the first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmission means;

said signal reception means being adapted to generate a second signal in response to said first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmission means; and

a switch having a first position and a second position;

said switch being in communication with said signal reception means;

said switch being adapted to change between said first position and said second position in response to said second signal.

25. The switching system according to claim 24, wherein the data encrypted by the encryption logic includes the one or more unique codes.

26. The switching system according to claim 24, further comprising:

second signal transmission means comprising a second at least one programmable encoder circuit connected to an antenna;

each of said second programmable encoder circuits comprising a second radio frequency generator subcircuit and a second tone generator subcircuit;

wherein each of said second programmable encoder circuits is adapted to be programmed to generate one or more unique codes;

and wherein each of said unique codes generated by each of said second programmable encoder circuits is different from each of said unique codes generated by each of said first programmable encoder circuits, and different from each of said unique codes generated by the others of said second programmable encoder circuits.

27. A self-powered switching system, comprising:

an electromechanical transducer for voltage generation;

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said voltage regulator being electrically connected to said electromechanical transducer;

a first signal transmitter electrically connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said first signal transmitter comprising a first logic circuit connected to a transmitter; and

a first clock generator subcircuit having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said first clock generator subcircuit being connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said output side of said first clock generator subcircuit being connected to said first logic circuit;

wherein said first clock generator subcircuit and said first logic circuit comprise a first at least one programmable encoder circuit;

and wherein each of said first programmable encoder circuits is adapted to be programmed to generate one or more codes;

and wherein each of said codes generated by each of said first programmable encoder circuits identifies said first programmable encoder circuit;

encryption means for encrypting data to be output as a first electromagnetic signal via the first signal transmitter;

signal reception means for receiving the first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter;

said signal reception means being adapted to initiate an action in response to said first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter; and

a switch having a first position and a second position;

said switch being in communication with said signal reception means;

said switch being adapted to change between said first position and said second position in response to said signal reception means.

28. The self-powered switching system according to claim 27, wherein the data encrypted by the encryption means includes the one or more codes.

29. An energy self-sufficient apparatus, comprising:

an electromechanical transducer;

a voltage regulating circuit;

an input of said voltage regulating circuit being electrically connected to said electromechanical transducer;

a radio frequency transmission stage electrically connected to said voltage regulating circuit;

a radiofrequency transmitter comprising a first logic circuit configuration connected to said radio frequency transmission stage; and

a first clock generator;

an input side of said first clock generator being connected to an output side of said voltage regulating circuit;

an output side of said first clock generator being connected to said first logic circuit configuration;

wherein said first clock generator and said first logic circuit configuration comprise at least one microprocessor;

and wherein each of said microprocessors is adapted to read out at least one identification code and to encrypt data to be output as a radio frequency telegram via the first radio frequency transmitter;

a receiver adapted to receiving the radiofrequency telegram transmitted by said radio frequency transmission stage;

said receiver being adapted to initiate an action in response to said radiofrequency telegram transmitted by said radio frequency transmission stage; and

a switch having an on position and an off position;

said switch being in communication with said receiver;

said switch being adapted to change between said on position and said off position in response to said receiver.

30. The energy self-sufficient apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the data encrypted by the microprocessor includes the at least identification code.

31. The apparatus according to claim 29, comprising:

a second signal transmission means comprising a second at least one microprocessor connected to a transmission antenna;

each of said second signal transmission means comprising a second radio frequency transmission stage and a second clock generator;

and wherein each of said second microprocessors is adapted to read out at least one identification code.

32. An energy self-sufficient apparatus, comprising:

an electromechanical transducer;

a voltage regulating circuit;

an input of said voltage regulating circuit being electrically connected to said electromechanical transducer;

a first radio frequency transmission stage electrically connected to said voltage regulating circuit;

a radiofrequency transmitter comprising a first logic circuit configuration connected to said first radio frequency transmission stage; and

a first clock generator;

an input side of said first clock generator being connected to an output side of said voltage regulating circuit;

an output side of said first clock generator being connected to said logic circuit configuration;

wherein said first clock generator and said first logic circuit configuration comprise at least one microprocessor;

and wherein each of said microprocessors is adapted to use a key to encrypt data to be transmitted in a radiofrequency telegram by the radiofrequency transmitter, wherein each key is different;

a receiver adapted to receiving the radiofrequency telegram transmitted by said first radio frequency transmission stage;

said receiver being adapted to initiate an action in response to said radiofrequency telegram transmitted by said first radio frequency transmission stage; and

a switch having an on position and an off position;

said switch being in communication with said receiver;

said switch being adapted to change between said on position and said off position in response to said receiver.

33. The energy self-sufficient apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the data encrypted by the microprocessor includes an identification code least identification code associated with the switch.