Active communications bus power harvester for differential signal communication system
First Claim
1. A balanced differential signal communication system having at least two data lines connecting multiple nodes in series, each node comprising a signal generator for applying signals to said data lines that produce a controllable differential voltage across said data lines, a receiver coupled to said data lines for detecting said differential voltage, a rechargeable storage device coupled to said data lines for receiving electrical energy from said data lines to charge said storage device, at least one device coupled to said storage device for receiving electrical energy from said storage device, and a controllable converter coupling said data lines to said storage device for controlling the charging of said storage device with power captured from said data lines, wherein said signal generator generates signals for transmission to other nodes coupled to said data lines to stimulate said other nodes to generate signals for transmission via said data lines, to provide additional power to be captured by said converter from said data lines.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A balanced differential signal communication system having at least two data lines connecting multiple nodes in series, each node comprising a signal generator for applying signals to the data lines that produce a controllable differential voltage across the data lines; a rechargeable storage device for receiving electrical energy from the data lines to charge the storage device; at least one device coupled to the storage device for receiving electrical energy from the storage device; and a controllable converter coupling the data lines to the storage device for controlling the charging and discharging of the storage device with power captured from the data lines.
9 Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A balanced differential signal communication system having at least two data lines connecting multiple nodes in series, each node comprising a signal generator for applying signals to said data lines that produce a controllable differential voltage across said data lines, a receiver coupled to said data lines for detecting said differential voltage, a rechargeable storage device coupled to said data lines for receiving electrical energy from said data lines to charge said storage device, at least one device coupled to said storage device for receiving electrical energy from said storage device, and a controllable converter coupling said data lines to said storage device for controlling the charging of said storage device with power captured from said data lines, wherein said signal generator generates signals for transmission to other nodes coupled to said data lines to stimulate said other nodes to generate signals for transmission via said data lines, to provide additional power to be captured by said converter from said data lines.
- 13. A method of harvesting electrical power from a balanced differential signal communication system having at least two data lines connecting multiple nodes that include a signal generator for applying signals to said data lines to produce a controllable differential voltage across said data lines, and a receiver coupled to said data lines for detecting said differential voltage, said method comprising coupling a rechargeable storage device to said data lines through a controllable converter that charges said storage device with electrical energy captured from said data lines, coupling at least one device to said storage device for receiving electrical energy from said storage device, and generating signals for transmission to other nodes coupled to said data lines to stimulate said other nodes to generate signals for transmission via said data lines, to provide additional power to be captured by said converter from said data lines.
Specification