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RF energy harvesting by a network node

  • US 9,680,327 B2
  • Filed: 06/30/2014
  • Issued: 06/13/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for energy harvesting by circuitry of a node in a network, comprising:

  • operating in a communication mode comprising;

    communicating, via a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, data with another node in the network, wherein the node comprises an energy storage device that provides power for the node; and

    in response to occurrence of a time period during which no further data communication is scheduled in the node, switching, via an RF switch in the node, from said communication mode to an energy harvest mode comprising;

    receiving RF emissions accessible to the node via an antenna;

    providing the received RF emissions to a rectifier;

    converting the RF emissions to direct current (DC) energy, wherein said converting is implemented using the rectifier; and

    storing the DC energy in the energy storage device.

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