Energy self-sufficient radiofrequency transmitter

• US 9,614,553 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2002
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EnOcean GmbH
• Original Assignee: EnOcean GmbH
• Inventors: Pistor, Klaus, Schmidt, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US10/304,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20030143963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 5,244 Days
• Field of Search: 340 1034, 340 101, 340 104, 340 1042, 34082572, 34082569, 340 103, 340 552, 340 1033, 340 105, 341 34, 307116, 307117, 310311, 310314, 310318, 310339
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0458 Arrangements for matching and coupling between power amplifier and antenna or between amplifying stages matching circuits in general H03H
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1607 Supply circuits converters H02M; filters therefor H02M1/14; voltage stabilisers G05F1/46

Abstract

The energy self-sufficient radiofrequency transmitter has at least one electromechanical transducer with a rectifier circuit connected downstream and with a voltage converter circuit. A logic circuit configuration is connected to the voltage converter circuit. The logic circuit configuration has a sequence controller a memory in which an identification code is stored. The energy self-sufficient radiofrequency transmitter also has a radiofrequency transmission stage that is connected to the logic circuit configuration and a transmission antenna.

Claims

1. A switching system comprising:

an electromechanical generation means for generating an oscillating voltage;

a rectifier electrically connected to said generation means;

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said voltage regulator being electrically connected to an output side of said rectifier;

an electrical energy store electrically connected to said voltage regulator and configured to receive electrical energy from the electromechanical generation means;

a sensor configured to generate measurement data responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store;

first signal transmission means electrically connected to said output side of said voltage regulator and configured to repeatedly transmit a first electromagnetic signal comprising the measurement data responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store and until there is insufficient electrical energy in the electrical energy store;

said first signal transmission means comprising a first electromagnetic signal generator subcircuit connected to a transmission antenna;

signal reception means for receiving a first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmission means;

said signal reception means being adapted to generate a second signal in response to said first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmission means; and

a switch having a first position and a second position;

said switch being in communication with said signal reception means;

said switch being adapted to change between said first position and said second position in response to said second signal.

2. The switching system according to claim 1, wherein said electromechanical generation means is selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric transducer, an electrostrictive element, a magnetostrictive element, and an electromagnetic induction coil.

3. The switching system according to claim 1, further comprising:

electrical energy storage means having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said electrical energy storage means being electrically connected to the output side of said voltage regulator;

whereby said electrical energy storage means is adapted to store an electrical output of said voltage regulator;

and wherein said electrical energy storage means is adapted to supplement said electrical output of said voltage regulator to said first signal transmission means with said stored electrical output of said voltage regulator.

4. The switching system according to claim 1, further comprising:

electrical energy storage means having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said electrical energy storage means being electrically connected to the output side of said rectifier;

whereby said electrical energy storage means is adapted to store an electrical output of said rectifier;

and wherein said electrical energy storage means is adapted to supplement electrical output of said voltage regulator to said first signal transmission means with said stored electrical output of said rectifier.

5. A switching system comprising:

an electromechanical generator for generating an oscillating voltage;

a rectifier electrically connected to said generator;

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said voltage regulator being electrically connected to an output side of said rectifier;

an electrical energy store electrically connected to said voltage regulator and configured to receive electrical energy from the electromechanical generator;

a sensor configured to generate measurement data responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store;

a first signal transmitter electrically connected to said output side of said voltage regulator and configured to repeatedly transmit a first electromagnetic signal comprising the measurement data responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store and until there is insufficient electrical energy in the electrical energy store;

said first signal transmitter comprising a first electromagnetic signal generator subcircuit connected to a transmission antenna;

a signal receiver for receiving a first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter;

said signal receiver being adapted to initiate an action in response to said first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter; and

a switch having a first condition and a second condition;

said switch being in communication with said signal receiver;

said switch being adapted to change between said first condition and said second condition in response to said initiated action.

6. A switching system comprising:

an electromechanical transducer for generating a voltage;

a rectifier electrically connected to said transducer;

a voltage regulating circuit having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said voltage regulating circuit being electrically connected to an output side of said rectifier;

an electrical energy store electrically connected to said voltage regulator and configured to receive electrical energy from the electromechanical transducer;

a sensor configured to generate measurement data responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store;

a first signal transmitter electrically connected to said output side of said voltage regulating circuit and configured to repeatedly transmit a first electromagnetic signal comprising the measurement data responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store and until there is insufficient electrical energy in the electrical energy store;

said first signal transmitter comprising a first radiofrequency signal generator connected to a transmission antenna;

a receiver for receiving a first radiofrequency signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter;

said receiver being adapted to initiate an action in response to said first radiofrequency signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter; and

a lamp having a first condition and a second condition;

said lamp being in communication with said receiver;

said lamp being adapted to change between said first condition and said second condition in response to said initiated action.

7. A self-powered switching system, comprising:

an electromechanical generator for generating a voltage across first and second electrical terminals;

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said voltage regulator being electrically connected to said first and second electrical terminals;

an electrical energy store electrically connected to said output side of said voltage regulator and configured to receive electrical energy from the electromechanical generator;

a sensor configured to generate measurement data responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store;

a first signal transmission means electrically connected to said electrical energy store and configured to repeatedly transmit a first electromagnetic signal comprising the measurement data responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store and until there is insufficient electrical energy in the electrical energy store;

said first signal transmission means comprising a first electromagnetic signal generator subcircuit connected to a transmitter; and

a first tone generator subcircuit having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said tone generator subcircuit being connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said output side of said tone generator subcircuit being connected to said first electromagnetic signal generator subcircuit;

wherein said first tone generator and said first electromagnetic signal generator subcircuits comprise a first at least one programmable encoder circuit;

and wherein each of said first programmable encoder circuits is adapted to be programmed to generate one or more unique codes;

and wherein each of said unique codes generated by each of said first programmable encoder circuits is different from each of said unique codes generated by the others of said first programmable encoder circuits;

signal reception means for receiving a first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmission means;

said signal reception means being adapted to generate a second signal ii response to said first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmission means; and

a switch having a first position and a second position;

said switch being in communication with said signal reception means;

said switch being adapted to change between said first position and said second position in response to said second signal.

8. The switching system according to claim 7, further comprising:

second signal transmission means comprising a second at least one programmable encoder circuit connected to an antenna;

each of said second programmable encoder circuits comprising a second radio frequency generator subcircuit and a second tone generator subcircuit;

wherein each of said second programmable encoder circuits is adapted to be programmed to generate one or more unique codes;

and wherein each of said unique codes generated by each of said second programmable encoder circuits is different from each of said unique codes generated by each of said first programmable encoder circuits, and different from each of said unique codes generated by the others of said second programmable encoder circuits.

9. A self-powered switching system, comprising:

an electromechanical transducer for voltage generation;

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said voltage regulator being electrically connected to said electromechanical transducer;

an electrical energy store electrically connected to said output side of said voltage regulator and configured to receive electrical energy from the electromechanical transducer;

a sensor configured to generate measurement data responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store;

a first signal transmitter configured to repeatedly transmit a first electromagnetic signal comprising the measurement data responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store and until there is insufficient electrical energy in the electrical energy store;

said first signal transmitter comprising a first logic circuit connected to a transmitter; and

a first clock generator subcircuit having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said first clock generator subcircuit being connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said output side of said first clock generator subcircuit being connected to said first logic circuit;

wherein said first clock generator subcircuit and said first logic circuit comprise a first at least one programmable encoder circuit;

and wherein each of said first programmable encoder circuits is adapted to be programmed to generate one or more codes;

and wherein each of said codes generated by each of said first programmable encoder circuits identifies said first programmable encoder circuit;

signal reception means for receiving a first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter;

said signal reception means being adapted to initiate an action in response to said first electromagnetic signal transmitted by said first signal transmitter; and

a switch having a first position and a second position;

said switch being in communication with said signal reception means;

said switch being adapted to change between said first position and said second position in response to said signal reception means.

10. An energy self-sufficient apparatus, comprising:

an electromechanical transducer;

a voltage regulating circuit;

an input of said voltage regulating circuit being electrically connected to said electromechanical transducer;

an electrical energy store electrically connected to said voltage regulator and configured to receive electrical energy from said electromechanical transducer;

a sensor configured to generate measurement data responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store;

a radio frequency transmission stage configured to repeatedly transmit a first electromagnetic signal comprising the measurement data responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store and until there is insufficient electrical energy in the electrical energy store;

a radiofrequency transmitter comprising a first logic circuit configuration connected to said radio frequency transmission stage; and

a first clock generator;

an input side of said first clock generator being connected to an output side of said voltage regulating circuit;

an output side of said first clock generator being connected to said first logic circuit configuration;

wherein said first clock generator and said first logic circuit configuration comprise at least one microprocessor;

and wherein each of said microprocessors is adapted to read out at least one identification code;

a receiver adapted to receiving a radiofrequency telegram transmitted by said radio frequency transmission stage;

said receiver being adapted to initiate an action in response to said radiofrequency telegram transmitted by said radio frequency transmission stage; and

a switch having an on position and an off position;

said switch being in communication with said receiver;

said switch being adapted to change between said on position and said off position in response to said receiver.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a second signal transmission means comprising a second at least one microprocessor connected to a transmission antenna;

each of said second signal transmission means comprising a second radio frequency transmission stage and a second clock generator;

and wherein each of said second microprocessors is adapted to read out at least one identification code.

12. An energy self-sufficient apparatus, comprising:

an electromechanical transducer;

a voltage regulating circuit;

an input of said voltage regulating circuit being electrically connected to said electromechanical transducer;

an electrical energy store electrically connected to said voltage regulator and configured to receive electrical energy from the electromechanical transducer;

a sensor configured to generate measurement data responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store;

a first radio frequency transmission stage configured to repeatedly transmit a first electromagnetic signal comprising the measurement data responsive to sufficient electrical energy being in the electrical energy store and until there is insufficient electrical energy in the electrical energy store;

a radiofrequency transmitter comprising a first logic circuit configuration connected to said first radio frequency transmission stage; and

a first clock generator;

an input side of said first clock generator being connected to an output side of said voltage regulating circuit;

an output side of said first clock generator being connected to said logic circuit configuration;

wherein said first clock generator and said first logic circuit configuration comprise at least one microprocessor;

and wherein each of said microprocessors is adapted to use a key, wherein each key is different;

a receiver adapted to receiving a radiofrequency telegram transmitted by said first radio frequency transmission stage;

said receiver being adapted to initiate an action in response to said radiofrequency telegram transmitted by said first radio frequency transmission stage; and

a switch having an on position and an off position;

said switch being in communication with said receiver;

said switch being adapted to change between said on position and said off position in response to said receiver.