×

Method and apparatus for harvesting energy

  • US 8,362,745 B2
  • Filed: 01/06/2011
  • Issued: 01/29/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An energy harvesting device, which comprises:

  • at least one antenna for receiving a transmitted radio frequency (RF) signal, the at least one antenna converting the received RF signal to an RF electrical signal;

    at least one RF-to-DC rectifier circuit, the at least one RF-to-DC rectifier circuit being operatively connected to the at least one antenna and converting the RF electrical signal to a direct current (DC) voltage;

    a first storage device, the first storage device being operatively connected to the at least one RF-to-DC rectifier circuit and being provided with the DC voltage and being charged thereby;

    a microcontroller, the microcontroller having a first signal input operatively connected to the first storage device to monitor the DC voltage on the first storage device, the microcontroller generating a pulsed output signal if the DC voltage on the first storage device is above a first pre-determined voltage level;

    a first stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit, the first stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit being operatively connected to the first storage device and generating an output DC voltage which is greater than the DC voltage on the first storage device;

    a second stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit, the second stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit being operatively connected to the first stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit and generating an output DC voltage which is less than the output DC voltage generated by the first stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit;

    a second storage device, the second storage device being operatively connected to the second stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit and being provided with the output DC voltage generated by the second stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit and being charged thereby;

    a third stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit, the third stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit being operatively connected to the second storage device and generating an output DC voltage which is greater than the DC voltage on the second storage device; and

    an output connector, the output connector being operatively connected to the third stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit and providing the output DC voltage generated by the third stage DC-to-DC voltage converter circuit thereon, an electronic device being connectable to the output connector for receiving thereon the output DC voltage provided to the output connector.

View all claims
  • 4 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×