METHODS, DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR SELF CHARGING SENSORS
First Claim
1. A sensor device, comprising:
- an energy harvesting element configured to harvest energy from a source of energy to be measured by the sensor device;
an energy storage element configured to store energy generated by the energy harvesting element; and
a transmitter circuit coupled to the energy storage element and configured to transmit a wireless signal when the energy stored in the energy storage element is sufficient to power transmission of the wireless signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems and devices for an energy harvesting sensor are disclosed. A sensor device may include an energy harvesting element configured to harvest energy from a source of energy that is to be measured by the sensor device, and an energy storage element configured to store energy generated by the energy harvesting element. The sensor device may further include a transmitter circuit coupled to the energy storage element and configured to transmit a wireless signal when the energy stored in the energy storage element is sufficient to power a transmission of the wireless signal. The time between transmissions by the transmitter may be used by a receiver of those transmissions to calculate a measure of the quantity being used for energy harvesting.
282 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A sensor device, comprising:
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an energy harvesting element configured to harvest energy from a source of energy to be measured by the sensor device; an energy storage element configured to store energy generated by the energy harvesting element; and a transmitter circuit coupled to the energy storage element and configured to transmit a wireless signal when the energy stored in the energy storage element is sufficient to power transmission of the wireless signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of measuring a quantity, comprising:
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harvesting energy from a source of energy to be measured using an energy harvesting circuit in a sensor device; storing the harvested energy in an energy storage circuit of the sensor device; and transmitting a wireless signal by a transmitter of the sensor device using energy stored in the energy storage circuit when the stored energy is sufficient to power the transmitter to transmit the wireless signal, wherein a measure of the quantity is based on an interval between transmissions by the transmitter. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for measuring a quantity, comprising:
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a sensor device; and a receiving device, wherein the sensor device comprises; an energy harvesting element configured to harvest energy from a source of energy to be measured by the sensor device; an energy storage element configured to store energy generated by the energy harvesting element; and a transmitter circuit coupled to the energy storage element and configured to transmit a wireless signal when the energy stored in the energy storage element is sufficient to power transmission of the wireless signal, and wherein the receiving device comprises; a receiver circuit configured to receive wireless signals transmitted by the sensor device; a memory; and a processor coupled to the receiver circuit and the memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor executable instructions to perform operations comprising; determining intervals between receptions of wireless signals received from the sensor device by the receiver circuit; and calculating measures of the quantity based on the determined intervals between receptions of wireless signals from the sensor device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification