Capacitive discharge energy harvesting converter

• US 7,781,943 B1
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hottinger Bruel & Kjaer Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Micro Strain Incorporated
• Inventors: Hamel, Michael J., Churchill, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Benson; Walter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Addison; Karen B
• Application Number:
  US12/009,945
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 310/339, 310/319, 310/328, 310/316.01, 310/316.03, 310/317, 307/151
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/181 Circuits; Control arrangements or methods

Abstract

An energy harvesting circuit includes a device for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, a solid state voltage dependent switch, and an inductor. The piezoelectric device, the solid state voltage dependent switch, and the inductor are all connected in series. The solid state voltage dependent switch has a first threshold The solid state voltage dependent switch remains open until voltage applied across the solid state voltage dependent switch by the device reaches the first threshold. When the voltage applied across the solid state voltage dependent switch reaches the first threshold the solid state voltage dependent switch closes so charge from the device flows through the switch and through the inductor.

Claims

1. An energy harvesting circuit, comprising an energy harvesting device, a solid state voltage dependent switch, and an inductor, wherein said solid state voltage dependent switch is connected between said energy harvesting device and said inductor, wherein said energy harvesting device converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, wherein said solid state voltage dependent switch has a first threshold and a second threshold, wherein said second threshold is below said first threshold, wherein said solid state voltage dependent switch remains open until voltage applied across said solid state voltage dependent switch from said energy harvesting device to said inductor reaches said first threshold, wherein when said voltage applied across said solid state voltage dependent switch reaches said first threshold said solid state voltage dependent switch closes so charge from said energy harvesting device flows through said solid state voltage dependent switch and through said inductor, wherein when said voltage applied across said solid state voltage dependent switch then falls below said second threshold said solid state voltage dependent switch reopens.

2. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 1, further comprising a solid state pulsed DC-DC converter, wherein said solid state pulsed DC-DC converter includes said solid state voltage dependent switch and said inductor.

3. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 2, wherein said DC-DC converter comprises a step down converter.

4. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 1, further comprising a diode connected in parallel with said inductor.

5. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 1, further comprising a diode having a cathode and an anode, wherein said cathode is connected between said voltage dependent switch and said inductor and wherein said anode is connected to ground.

6. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 1, further comprising a threshold adjusting device, wherein said threshold adjusting device adjusts said first and said second threshold.

7. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 6, wherein said threshold adjusting device includes a variable resistor.

8. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 1, further comprising an energy storage element, wherein energy from said inductor provides charge to said energy storage element when said voltage falls below said second threshold.

9. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said voltage dependent switch remains open until a voltage greater than 100 volts is provided across said voltage dependent switch.

10. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 9, wherein said energy harvesting device provides a voltage that is greater than 100 volts.

11. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said energy harvesting device includes intrinsic capacitance.

12. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 11, wherein all energy provided to said inductor comes from energy stored in said intrinsic capacitance.

13. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 1, further comprising a first diode and a second diode between said energy harvesting device and said voltage dependent switch, wherein said first diode is connected in parallel with said energy harvesting device and wherein said second diode is connected in series with said energy harvesting device and with said voltage dependent switch.

14. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 1, further comprising an energy storage element.

15. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 14, further comprising an energy using element, wherein said energy storage element provides energy for use by said energy using element.

16. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 14, wherein said energy storage element includes at least of one from the group consisting of a capacitor and a battery.

17. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said voltage dependent switch includes two Darlington transistors.

18. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 15, wherein said energy using element includes a sensor, a microprocessor, a memory, and an RF transceiver.

19. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said energy harvesting device includes a piezoelectric device.

20. An energy harvesting circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein when said solid state voltage dependent switch is open said solid state voltage dependent switch disconnects said energy harvesting device from substantially all sources of loss of charge.

21. A circuit as recited in claim 19, further comprising a source of mechanical energy, wherein said piezoelectric device is connected to said source of mechanical energy for receiving at least one from the group consisting of mechanical strain energy and vibration energy.

22. A circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said solid state voltage dependent switch is capable of closing to transfer charge when said energy harvesting device is receiving mechanical energy from a single event, and wherein said solid state voltage dependent switch is capable of reopening subsequently.

23. A circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said solid state voltage dependent switch is capable of repeatedly closing and reopening to transfer charge when said energy harvesting device is receiving mechanical energy from a cyclic mechanical energy input.

24. A circuit as recited in claim 1, wherein said solid state voltage dependent switch is capable of repeatedly closing and reopening to transfer charge when said energy harvesting device is receiving mechanical energy from random events.