High-efficiency energy harvesting interface and corresponding energy harvesting system
First Claim
1. An electrical-energy harvesting system, comprising:
- a transducer to convert energy from an environmental energy source into a transduced signal;
a harvesting interface to receive the transduced signal on an input terminal and to supply an electrical-energy harvesting signal on an output terminal;
an energy storage element coupled to the output terminal of the harvesting interface to receive the electrical-energy harvesting signal;
a voltage converter coupled to the output terminal to generate a regulated voltage, wherein the harvesting interface is configured to;
sample an open-circuit voltage value of the transduced signal;
generate an optimized voltage value starting from the open-circuit voltage value;
generate an upper threshold voltage based on the optimized voltage value;
generate a lower threshold voltage based on the optimized voltage value; and
control the voltage converter in a switching mode to thereby maintain the electrical-energy harvesting signal between the upper and lower threshold voltages in a first operating condition;
a first holding element to store said optimized voltage value;
a second holding element to store said upper threshold voltage;
a third holding element to store said lower threshold voltage during said first operating condition; and
controllable decoupling-switching elements to selectively decouple said first, second, and third holding elements during a storage condition of each respective voltage value.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical-energy harvesting system envisages a transducer for converting energy from an environmental energy source into a transduced signal, an electrical energy harvesting interface for receiving the transduced signal and for supplying a harvesting signal, and an energy storage element coupled to the electrical energy harvesting interface for receiving the harvesting signal. The electrical-energy harvesting system also includes a voltage converter connected to the electrical energy harvesting interface for generating a regulated voltage. The harvesting interface samples an open-circuit voltage value of the transduced signal, generates an optimized voltage value starting from the open-circuit voltage value, and generates an upper threshold voltage and a lower threshold voltage on the basis of the optimized voltage value. The harvesting interface controls the voltage converter in switching mode so that the harvesting signal has a value between the upper and lower threshold voltages in at least one operating condition.
47 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An electrical-energy harvesting system, comprising:
-
a transducer to convert energy from an environmental energy source into a transduced signal; a harvesting interface to receive the transduced signal on an input terminal and to supply an electrical-energy harvesting signal on an output terminal; an energy storage element coupled to the output terminal of the harvesting interface to receive the electrical-energy harvesting signal; a voltage converter coupled to the output terminal to generate a regulated voltage, wherein the harvesting interface is configured to; sample an open-circuit voltage value of the transduced signal; generate an optimized voltage value starting from the open-circuit voltage value; generate an upper threshold voltage based on the optimized voltage value; generate a lower threshold voltage based on the optimized voltage value; and control the voltage converter in a switching mode to thereby maintain the electrical-energy harvesting signal between the upper and lower threshold voltages in a first operating condition; a first holding element to store said optimized voltage value; a second holding element to store said upper threshold voltage; a third holding element to store said lower threshold voltage during said first operating condition; and controllable decoupling-switching elements to selectively decouple said first, second, and third holding elements during a storage condition of each respective voltage value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An electronic device, comprising:
-
a transducer to convert energy from an environmental or mechanical energy source into a transduced signal; a harvesting interface to receive the transduced signal on an input terminal and to supply an electrical-energy harvesting signal on an output terminal; an energy storage element coupled to the output terminal of the harvesting interface to receive the electrical-energy harvesting signal; a first holding element to store an optimized voltage generated during a first operating condition; a second holding element to store an upper threshold voltage; a third holding element to store a lower threshold voltage; controllable decoupling-switching elements to selectively decouple said first, second, and third holding elements during a storage condition of each respective voltage value; a voltage converter coupled to the output terminal to generate a regulated voltage, wherein the harvesting interface is configured to; control the voltage converter in a switching mode to thereby maintain the electrical-energy harvesting signal between the upper threshold voltage and the lower threshold voltages in the first operating condition; generate said upper and lower threshold voltages during a second operating condition; and cyclically execute said first operating condition following upon each new execution of said second operating condition; and an electrical load to receive the regulated voltage. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An electrical-energy harvesting method, comprising:
-
by a transducer, converting energy from an environmental energy source into a transduced signal; by a harvesting interface; receiving the transduced signal on an input terminal; supplying an electrical-energy harvesting signal on an output terminal; sampling an open-circuit voltage value of the transduced signal; generating an optimized voltage value starting from the open-circuit voltage value; storing the optimized voltage value in a first holding element; generating an upper threshold voltage based on the optimized voltage value; storing the upper threshold voltage in a second holding element; generating a lower threshold voltage based on the optimized voltage value; and storing the lower threshold voltage in a third holding element wherein said first, second, and third holding elements are selectively decoupled during said storing of each respective voltage value; controlling a voltage converter in a switching mode to maintain the electrical-energy harvesting signal between the upper and lower threshold voltages in a first operating condition; by an energy storage element coupled to the output terminal of the harvesting interface, receiving the electrical-energy harvesting signal and storing electrical energy; and by the voltage converter coupled to the output terminal, generating a regulated voltage. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
Specification