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Energy harvesting system

  • US 8,188,703 B2
  • Filed: 06/04/2010
  • Issued: 05/29/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An energy harvesting system, comprising:

  • an energy harvesting unit adapted for converting energy from a natural energy source into an electrical power signal;

    a power point tracking unit including a current tracing module that is coupled to said energy harvesting unit and that is capable of detecting a current of the electrical power signal, and a boundary control module;

    a microcontroller including a voltage detecting module that is coupled to said energy harvesting unit and that is capable of detecting a voltage of the electrical power signal, and a computing module that is coupled to said voltage detecting module and said current tracing module of said power point tracking unit, and that determines a maximum power point with reference to the voltage and the current of the electrical power signal as respectively detected by said voltage detecting module and said current tracing module, said boundary control module of said power point tracking unit receiving the maximum power point that is determined by said computing module, and generating a switch control voltage signal with reference to the maximum power point;

    a storage unit capable of storing energy; and

    a pulse frequency modulation regulator coupled to said energy harvesting unit and said power point tracking unit for respectively receiving the electrical power signal and the switch control voltage signal therefrom, and converting the electrical power signal into an intermediate signal with reference to the switch control voltage signal for subsequent storage of energy of the intermediate signal in said storage unit.

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