Energy Harvesting System
First Claim
1. A system for harvesting electromagnetic energy propagating in surroundings, said system comprising:
- an antenna unit configured for receiving external electromagnetic radiation from the surroundings and producing a corresponding electric output;
a harvesting unit comprising at least one energy harvesting circuit each configured and operable for receiving signals indicative of the output of the antenna unit and generating and storing corresponding electric charge, the harvesting circuit comprising;
a rectifying unit comprising a plurality of rectifiers each configured and operable to receive AC electric signals and generate corresponding DC electric power; and
a charge collection unit configured and operable to receive the plurality of DC electric powers from said rectifying unit and converting and accumulating them into the electric charge presenting harvested energy; and
an input signal adapting circuit having an input connected to the antenna unit and an output connected to the rectifying unit, the input signal adapting circuit being configured and operable for adjusting a predetermined electrical property of the antenna unit and rectifying unit to thereby optimize receipt of the electric output of the antenna unit to the harvesting circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is presented for harvesting electromagnetic energy propagating in surroundings. The system comprises an antenna unit, a harvesting unit, and an input signal adapting circuit. The antenna unit is configured for receiving external electromagnetic radiation from the surroundings and producing a corresponding electric output. The harvesting unit comprises at least one energy harvesting circuit each configured and operable for receiving signals indicative of the output of the antenna unit and generating and storing corresponding electric charge, the harvesting circuit comprising: a rectifying unit comprising a plurality of rectifiers each configured and operable to receive AC electric signals and generate corresponding DC electric power; and a charge collection unit configured and operable to receive the plurality of DC electric powers from said rectifying unit and converting and accumulating them into the electric charge presenting harvested energy. The input signal adapting circuit has an input connected to the antenna unit and an output connected to the rectifying unit, the input signal adapting circuit being configured and operable for adjusting a predetermined electrical property of the antenna unit and rectifying unit to thereby optimize receipt of the electric output of the antenna unit to the harvesting circuit.
38 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system for harvesting electromagnetic energy propagating in surroundings, said system comprising:
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an antenna unit configured for receiving external electromagnetic radiation from the surroundings and producing a corresponding electric output; a harvesting unit comprising at least one energy harvesting circuit each configured and operable for receiving signals indicative of the output of the antenna unit and generating and storing corresponding electric charge, the harvesting circuit comprising;
a rectifying unit comprising a plurality of rectifiers each configured and operable to receive AC electric signals and generate corresponding DC electric power; and
a charge collection unit configured and operable to receive the plurality of DC electric powers from said rectifying unit and converting and accumulating them into the electric charge presenting harvested energy; andan input signal adapting circuit having an input connected to the antenna unit and an output connected to the rectifying unit, the input signal adapting circuit being configured and operable for adjusting a predetermined electrical property of the antenna unit and rectifying unit to thereby optimize receipt of the electric output of the antenna unit to the harvesting circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13-16. -16. (canceled)
- 17. An antenna unit configured and operable for receiving external electromagnetic radiation from surroundings and producing a corresponding output electric signal, said antenna unit comprising at least two conductive elements positioned in at least two different transmission media being different in at least one of electric and magnetic properties, such that received external electromagnetic radiation creates a potential difference between the at least two conductive elements producing an output electric signal, thereby allowing uptake of the external electromagnetic radiation from the surroundings.
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20. (canceled)
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21. An input signal adapting unit for use with an antenna exposed to electromagnetic radiation of Radio Frequency (RF) band propagating in surroundings, the input signal adapting unit comprising an impedance matching unit and a filtering unit connected to the impedance matching unit, the impedance matching unit being configured to match between impedances of the antenna unit and the filtering unit, and the filtering unit being adapted for sorting the RF band into a predefined number of subbands of a predetermined frequency, bandwidth and strength for each subband.
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22. (canceled)
- 23. A charge collection unit for use in an energy harvesting circuit, the charge collection unit comprising a signal summing unit adapted to receive a plurality of DC electric powers and sum them in the form of an electric charge on a storage capacitor, the signal summing unit comprising at least one of a switching topology unit and a voltage to current unit.
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26. An energy harvesting unit comprising at least one energy harvesting circuit, wherein each energy harvesting circuit is configured and operable for receiving signals from an antenna unit and generating and storing corresponding electric charge, the harvesting circuit comprising:
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an input signal adapting circuit connectable to output of an antenna unit;
a rectifying unit connected to output of the input signal adapting circuit, the rectifying unit comprising a plurality of rectifiers each configured and operable to receive AC electric signals and generate corresponding DC electric power; and
a charge collection unit configured and operable to receive the plurality of DC electric powers from said rectifying unit and converting and accumulating them into the electric charge presenting harvested energy;the harvesting circuit having at least one of the following configurations; (a) the input signal adapting unit comprises an impedance matching unit and a filtering unit connected to the impedance matching unit, the impedance matching unit being configured to match between impedances of the antenna unit and the filtering unit, and the filtering unit being adapted for sorting the RF band into a predefined number of subbands of a predetermined frequency, bandwidth and strength for each subband; and (b) the charge collection unit comprises a signal summing unit adapted to receive a plurality of DC electric powers and sum them in the form of an electric charge on a storage capacitor, the signal summing unit comprising at least one of a switching topology unit and a voltage to current unit.
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Specification