Motion activated amplifier

• US 8,213,201 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Original Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Inventors: Mickle, Marlin H., Hawrylak, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, EMILY P
• Application Number:
  US12/481,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20090310393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 363/126, 363/170, 363/15, 363/34, 363/37, 363/124, 363/125
• US Class Current: 363/124
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/001 Energy harvesting or scavenging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 3/28 using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode to produce the intermediate ac

Abstract

An electronic device that includes a motion activated amplifier structured to receive a first DC signal having a first DC voltage level and output a second DC signal having a second DC voltage level that is greater than the first DC voltage level. The motion activated amplifier includes a motion activated switch operatively coupled to transformer/rectifier circuitry, wherein the motion activated switch is structured to receive the first DC signal and in response to being moved output an AC signal, and wherein the transformer/rectifier circuitry is structured to receive the AC signal and convert the AC signal into the second DC signal.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a motion activated amplifier structured to receive a first DC signal having a first DC voltage level and output a second DC signal having a second DC voltage level that is greater than said first DC voltage level;

said motion activated amplifier including a motion activated switch operatively coupled to transformer/rectifier circuitry, said motion activated switch being structured to receive said first DC signal and in response to said electronic device being moved output an AC signal by chopping said first DC signal to produce said AC signal responsive to said electronic device being moved, wherein said chopping results from said motion activated switch providing alternating conducting and non-conducting paths between a source of said first DC signal and said transformer/rectifier circuitry responsive to said electronic device being moved, said transformer/rectifier circuitry being structured to receive said AC signal and convert said AC signal into said second DC signal.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said electronic device is a wireless electronic device and wherein said electronic device includes energy harvesting circuitry for receiving RF energy and converting said RF energy into said first DC signal.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein said energy harvesting circuitry includes an antenna for receiving said RF energy, a matching network operatively coupled to said antenna, and a charge pump operatively coupled to said matching network for converting said RF energy into said first DC signal.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said second DC voltage signal directly powers one or more electronic components of said electronic device.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said second DC voltage signal charges an energy storage device, said energy storage device being structured to provide power to one or more electronic components of said electronic device.

6. An electronic device, comprising:

a motion activated amplifier structured to receive a first DC signal having a first DC voltage level and output a second DC signal having a second DC voltage level that is greater than said first DC voltage level, said motion activated amplifier including a motion activated switch operatively coupled to transformer/rectifier circuitry, said motion activated switch being structured to receive said first DC signal and in response to being moved output an AC signal, said transformer/rectifier circuitry being structured to receive said AC signal and convert said AC signal into said second DC signal; and

a second motion activated amplifier structured to receive said second DC signal and output a third DC signal having a third DC voltage level that is greater than said second DC voltage level, said second motion activated amplifier including a second motion activated switch operatively coupled to second transformer/rectifier circuitry, said second motion activated switch being structured to receive said second DC signal and in response to being moved output a second AC signal, said second transformer/rectifier circuitry being structured to receive said second AC signal and convert said second AC signal into said third DC signal.

7. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein said electronic device is a wireless electronic device and wherein said electronic device includes energy harvesting circuitry for receiving RF energy and converting said RF energy into said first DC signal.

8. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein said third DC voltage signal directly powers one or more electronic components of said electronic device.

9. The electronic device according to claim 6, wherein said third DC voltage signal charges an energy storage device, said energy storage device being structured to provide power to one or more electronic components of said electronic device.

10. An electronic device, comprising:

a motion activated amplifier structured to receive a first DC signal having a first DC voltage level and output a second DC signal having a second DC voltage level that is greater than said first DC voltage level, said motion activated amplifier including a motion activated switch operatively coupled to transformer/rectifier circuitry, said motion activated switch being structured to receive said first DC signal and in response to being moved output an AC signal, said transformer/rectifier circuitry being structured to receive said AC signal and convert said AC signal into said second DC signal, wherein said second DC voltage signal charges a first energy storage device; and

a second motion activated amplifier structured to receive a third DC signal having a third DC voltage level from said first energy storage device and output a fourth DC signal having a fourth DC voltage level that is greater than said third DC voltage level, said second motion activated amplifier including a second motion activated switch operatively coupled to second transformer/rectifier circuitry, said second motion activated switch being structured to receive said third DC signal and in response to being moved output a second AC signal, said second transformer/rectifier circuitry being structured to receive said second AC signal and convert said second AC signal into said fourth DC signal, wherein said fourth DC voltage signal charges a second energy storage device.

11. A method of generating a voltage signal, comprising:

receiving a first DC signal having a first DC voltage level;

converting said first DC signal into an AC signal based on and in response to motion by chopping said first DC signal to produce said AC signal responsive to said motion, wherein said chopping results from providing alternating conducting and non-conducting paths for said first DC signal responsive to said motion; and

converting said AC signal into a second DC signal having a second DC voltage level that is greater than said first DC voltage level.

12. The method according to claim 11, converting said AC signal into a second DC signal comprising stepping up a voltage of said AC signal to create a stepped-up AC signal, and rectifying said stepped-up AC signal to create said second DC signal.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising receiving RF energy and converting said RF energy into said first DC signal.