Powering devices using RF energy harvesting
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a first antenna configured to wirelessly receive energy from a source that is remote from the apparatus and in a far-field region of the first antenna and a second antenna;
the second antenna different from and electrically isolated from the first antenna, the second antenna configured to wirelessly communicate with the source;
a power harvester electrically coupled to the first antenna and configured to convert the energy received at the first antenna to a DC voltage;
a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device electrically coupled to the power harvester and to the second antenna, the RFID device configured to wirelessly communicate with the source via the second antenna;
an integrated circuit configured to operate based on the DC voltage; and
a sensor electrically coupled to the integrated circuit, the sensor configured to operate based on the DC voltage and to detect at least one of an environmental condition associated with a location of the apparatus or a physical condition associated with an item coupled to the apparatus.
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Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus for an application including a core device for the application. The apparatus includes a power (preferably RF energy) harvester connected to the core device to power the core device. Also disclosed is a method for an application. The method includes the steps of converting RF energy into usable energy. There is the step of powering the core device with the usable energy.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a first antenna configured to wirelessly receive energy from a source that is remote from the apparatus and in a far-field region of the first antenna and a second antenna; the second antenna different from and electrically isolated from the first antenna, the second antenna configured to wirelessly communicate with the source; a power harvester electrically coupled to the first antenna and configured to convert the energy received at the first antenna to a DC voltage; a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device electrically coupled to the power harvester and to the second antenna, the RFID device configured to wirelessly communicate with the source via the second antenna; an integrated circuit configured to operate based on the DC voltage; and a sensor electrically coupled to the integrated circuit, the sensor configured to operate based on the DC voltage and to detect at least one of an environmental condition associated with a location of the apparatus or a physical condition associated with an item coupled to the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus, comprising:
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an antenna configured to wirelessly receive energy from a source that is remote from the apparatus and in a far-field region of the antenna; a power harvester electrically coupled to the antenna and configured to convert the energy received at the antenna to a DC voltage; a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device electrically coupled to the antenna and configured to wirelessly communicate with the source via the antenna, the RFID device operatively coupled to the power harvester and including an integrated circuit configured to operate based on the DC voltage; and a sensor electrically coupled to the RFID device and the power harvester, the sensor configured to operate based on the DC voltage and to detect at least one of an environmental condition associated with a location of the apparatus or a physical condition associated with an item coupled to the apparatus, the integrated circuit configured to perform an application associated with the at least one of the environmental condition or the physical condition detected by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus, comprising:
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an antenna configured to wirelessly receive energy from a source that is remote from the apparatus and in a far-field region of the antenna; a power harvester electrically coupled to the antenna and configured to convert the energy received at the antenna to a DC voltage to produce a power associated with the DC voltage; a regulator coupled to the power harvester and configured to regulate the power associated with the DC voltage to produce a regulated power; a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device electrically coupled to the antenna and configured to wirelessly communicate with the source via the antenna, the RFID device electrically coupled to the power harvester and the regulator, the RFID device including an integrated circuit configured to operate based on at least one of the power received from the power harvester or the regulated power received from the regulator; and an electronic display electrically coupled to the RFID device and configured to operate, at least in part, based on the regulated power received from the regulator. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification