Battery protection circuit and method for energy harvester circuit
First Claim
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1. An energy harvesting system comprising:
- (a) an energy harvester for generating a harvested voltage;
(b) an energy management circuit for converting the harvested voltage to an output voltage, the energy management circuit including an inductor having a first terminal coupled to receive the harvested voltage and a second terminal coupled to a first terminal of a first switch;
(c) an energy storage device coupled to receive the output voltage; and
(d) protection circuitry in the energy management circuit for shunting current generated by the energy harvester away from the energy storage device if the energy storage device is fully charged.
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Abstract
Power management circuitry (7-2,3,4) for converting a harvested voltage (Vhrv) to an output voltage (VBAT) applied to a battery (6) includes an inductor (L0) having a first terminal (3) coupled to receive the harvested voltage (Vhrv) and a second terminal coupled to a first terminal of a first switch (S0). The power management circuitry transfers the current generated by an energy harvester (2) to the battery if it (6) is not fully charged, and shunts the current away from the battery (6) to avoid overcharging if it is fully charged.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An energy harvesting system comprising:
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(a) an energy harvester for generating a harvested voltage; (b) an energy management circuit for converting the harvested voltage to an output voltage, the energy management circuit including an inductor having a first terminal coupled to receive the harvested voltage and a second terminal coupled to a first terminal of a first switch; (c) an energy storage device coupled to receive the output voltage; and (d) protection circuitry in the energy management circuit for shunting current generated by the energy harvester away from the energy storage device if the energy storage device is fully charged. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for harvesting energy from an energy harvester to generate a harvested voltage, the method comprising:
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(a) converting the harvested voltage to an output voltage applied to an energy storage device by means of an energy management circuit including an inductor having a first terminal coupled to receive the harvested voltage and a second terminal coupled to a first terminal of a first switch; (b) transferring current generated by the energy harvester to the energy storage device by means of the energy management circuit if the energy storage device is not fully charged; and (c) shunting the current generated by the energy harvester away from the energy storage device to avoid overcharging the energy storage device if it is fully charged. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for harvesting energy from an energy harvester to generate a DC harvested voltage, the system comprising:
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(a) means for converting the harvested voltage to an output voltage applied to an energy storage device by means of an energy management circuit including an inductor having a first terminal coupled to receive the harvested voltage and a second terminal coupled to a first terminal of a first switch; (b) means for transferring current generated by the energy harvester to the energy storage device by means of the energy management circuit if the energy storage device is not fully charged; and (c) means for shunting the current generated by the energy harvester away from the energy storage device to avoid overcharging the energy storage device if it is fully charged.
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Specification