Input regulated DC to DC converter for power scavenging
First Claim
1. A method of scavenging power in a circuit including a power source and a power consuming device, wherein the power source generates electric current that varies within a certain range to define signaling between the power source and the power consuming device to control the power consuming device, the method comprising:
- connecting a power scavenging device having an input terminal pair and an output terminal pair to the circuit via the input terminal pair;
dynamically regulating a voltage drop across the input terminal pair of the power scavenging device;
harvesting electrical energy available at the regulated voltage drop from the electric current flowing through the input terminal pair of the power scavenging device, including controlling an amount of the harvested electrical energy based on the electric current so as to not interfere with the signaling between the power source and the power consuming device; and
providing the harvested electrical energy at the output terminal pair of the power scavenging device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of scavenging power in a circuit having a power source generating electric current includes connecting a power scavenging device having an input terminal pair and an output terminal pair to the circuit via the input terminal pair, dynamically regulating a voltage drop across the input terminal pair of the power scavenging device, harvesting electrical energy available at the regulated voltage drop from the electric current flowing through the first input terminal pair of the power scavenging device, and providing the harvested electrical energy at the output terminal pair of the power scavenging device.
15 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of scavenging power in a circuit including a power source and a power consuming device, wherein the power source generates electric current that varies within a certain range to define signaling between the power source and the power consuming device to control the power consuming device, the method comprising:
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connecting a power scavenging device having an input terminal pair and an output terminal pair to the circuit via the input terminal pair; dynamically regulating a voltage drop across the input terminal pair of the power scavenging device; harvesting electrical energy available at the regulated voltage drop from the electric current flowing through the input terminal pair of the power scavenging device, including controlling an amount of the harvested electrical energy based on the electric current so as to not interfere with the signaling between the power source and the power consuming device; and providing the harvested electrical energy at the output terminal pair of the power scavenging device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A scavenging circuit for harvesting excess power from a source circuit, comprising:
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a pair of input terminals to connect the scavenging circuit to a source circuit, wherein the source circuit includes a power source and a power consuming device that communicate information by varying current in the source circuit within a certain range; a voltage regulating circuit to generate a voltage regulation signal based on a voltage drop across the pair of input terminals, and further based on the current in the source circuit so as to not interfere with the signaling between the power source and the power consuming device; an accumulation element for temporary accumulation of electric energy harvested from the electric circuit; a boost DC to DC controller that controls the accumulation element based on the voltage regulation signal from the voltage regulating circuit; and a pair of output terminals to output electrical power accumulated by the accumulation element;
wherein the scavenging circuit maintains a controlled voltage across the pair of input terminals. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A circuit for communicating information in a process control environment, comprising:
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a first device that generates a DC current signal that varies with time and propagates the signal through the circuit; a second device that receives the signal and performs a function in the process control environment according to the signal; a power scavenging device connected in series with the first device and with the second device, wherein the power scavenging device dynamically regulates a voltage drop across the power scavenging device to harvest excess electrical power at the regulated voltage drop, the power scavenging device including; a pair of input terminals connected to the circuit; and a pair of output terminals for connecting to a consumer circuit. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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Specification