Battery charger and power source employing an environmental energy extractor and a method related thereto
First Claim
1. A battery charger comprising:
- (a) a first terminal for coupling to an anode of a chargeable battery;
(b) a second terminal for coupling to a cathode of the chargeable battery;
(c) a storage device coupled to the first and second terminals for storing charge; and
(d) an environmental energy extractor coupled to the first and second terminals for extracting energy from the environment and for providing the extracted energy to the storage device;
said environmental energy extractor including an energy module having;
(i) a first section for receiving an RF signal;
(ii) a second section, inductively coupled to the first section, for generating an output signal based on the RF signal; and
(iii) a third section, coupled to the second section, for rectifying the output signal of the second section.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power source employs an environmental energy extractor. The environmental energy extractor operates to extract energy from the environment and provides the extracted energy either to power an electronic device, or to a storage device coupled to a battery charger for storing the extracted energy. The environmental energy extractor can include one or more energy modules. Each energy module is for extracting environmental energy and for providing the extracted energy to either the electronic device or the storage device. When more than one energy module is employed, the energy modules are configured such that the extracted energy provided by each module is summed, and the collective extracted energy of all the energy modules is provided to the electronic device or the storage device.
87 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A battery charger comprising:
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(a) a first terminal for coupling to an anode of a chargeable battery; (b) a second terminal for coupling to a cathode of the chargeable battery; (c) a storage device coupled to the first and second terminals for storing charge; and (d) an environmental energy extractor coupled to the first and second terminals for extracting energy from the environment and for providing the extracted energy to the storage device; said environmental energy extractor including an energy module having; (i) a first section for receiving an RF signal; (ii) a second section, inductively coupled to the first section, for generating an output signal based on the RF signal; and (iii) a third section, coupled to the second section, for rectifying the output signal of the second section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In combination:
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a device which requires energy for its operation; and a power source coupled to the device, the power source comprising an environmental energy extractor for extracting energy from the environment and for providing the extracted energy to the device, the environmental energy extractor including one or more energy modules, each energy module extracting environmental energy and providing the extracted energy to the device, each energy module including; (a) a first section for receiving an RF signal; (b) a second section, electrically isolated from the first section, for generating an output signal based on the RF signal; and (c) a third section, coupled to the second section, for rectifying the output signal of the second section.
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19. A battery charger comprising:
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(a) a first terminal for coupling to an anode of a chargeable battery; (b) a second terminal for coupling to a cathode of the chargeable battery; (c) a storage device coupled to the first and second terminals for storing charge; (d) an environmental energy extractor coupled to the first and second terminals for extracting energy from the environment and for providing the extracted energy to the storage device; said environmental energy extractor including at least two energy modules, each energy module extracting environmental energy and providing extracted energy to the storage device, each energy module being dynamically tuned to optimize the energy extracted from the particular energy module.
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20. In combination:
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a device which requires energy for its operation; and a power source coupled to the device, the power source comprising an environmental energy extractor for extracting energy from the environment and providing the extracted energy to the device, the environmental energy extractor including one or more energy modules, each energy module extracting environmental energy and providing the extracted energy to the device, each energy module being dynamically tuned to optimize the energy extracted from the particular energy module. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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21. In combination:
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a device which requires energy for its operation; and a power source coupled to the device, the power source comprising an environmental energy extractor for extracting energy from the environment and for providing the extracted energy to the device, the environmental energy extractor including at least two energy modules, each module for extracting environmental energy and for providing the extracted energy to the device, each energy module including; (a) a first section for receiving an RF signal; (b) a second section, inductively coupled to the first section, for generating an output signal based on the RF signal; and (c) a third section, coupled to the second section, for rectifying the output signal of the second section. - View Dependent Claims (22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of extracting energy from the environment, and providing the extracted energy to a device, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an energy module having a first section having a current path and a second section having an output; (b) receiving radio frequency (RF) signals; (c) maximizing a current through the current path of the first section; (d) maximizing the output in the second section; and (e) rectifying the output of the second section. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification